hoarse

1 of 2

adjective

ˈhȯrs 

hoarser; hoarsest

1

: rough or harsh in sound : grating

a hoarse voice

2

: having a hoarse voice

shouted himself hoarse

hoarsely adverb

hoarseness noun

hoarseness

2 of 2

noun

hoarse·​ness

-snə̇s

plural -es

: the quality or state of being hoarse

Synonyms of hoarse

Adjective

• gruff
• husky
• coarse
• rusty
• rasping

Examples of hoarse in a Sentence

Adjective

She could only speak in a hoarse whisper.

The cold made me a little hoarse.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Now life was like that; some days fine and firm and full of whatever, while other days the hoarse bark of the neighbors’ dog or a friend’s grim diagnosis and her body succumbed to an emotional gravity that pulled her into a free fall. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Singers didn’t want their voices to get hoarse over the long night or week. — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Saliva collects at the mouthpiece and distorts the notes, making the blasts sound hoarse and off-pitch. — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026

Fireflies flash from bush to bush, hanging on the pitch dark bamboo hedge far away; frogs in the ponds and rice paddies try to outdo one another with their hoarse songs. — Phong Nguyen, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English hos, hors, probably from Old Norse *hārs, hāss; akin to Old English hās hoarse, Old High German heis

Noun

alteration (influenced by hoarse) of Middle English hosnes, from Old English hāsnys, from hās hoarse + -nys, -nes -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hoarse

• shout oneself hoarse

Rhymes for hoarse

• bourse
• coarse
• course
• force
• gorse
• horse
• norse
• source
• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce

Kids Definition

hoarse

adjective

ˈhō(ə)rs 

ˈhȯ(ə)rs

hoarser; hoarsest

1

: harsh in sound

2

: having a rough voice

a cold made me hoarse

hoarsely adverb

hoarseness noun

Medical Definition

hoarse

adjective

ˈhō(ə)rs, ˈhȯ(ə)rs 

hoarser; hoarsest

1

: rough or harsh in sound

a hoarse voice

2

: having a hoarse voice

was hoarse from shouting

hoarsely adverb

hoarseness noun