Words to Describe Someone's Voice
I went scouting through the internet for words to describe a character’s voice. Here’s a handy list for all you writers:
Adenoidal/Nasal - Some of the sound seems to come through the nose.
Appealing - Shows that you want help, approval, or agreement.
Breathy - With loud breathing noises.
Brittle - You sound as if you are about to cry.
Croaky - Sounds as if they have a sore throat.
Dead - They feel or show no emotion.
Disembodied - Voice comes from someone who you cannot see.
Flat - Spoken in a voice that does not go up and down.
Fruity - Deep and strong in a pleasant way.
Grating - Unpleasant and annoying.
Gravelly - Low and rough.
Gruff - Has a rough low sound.
Guttural - Deep and made at the back of your throat.
High-Pitched - Very high and shrill.
Hoarse - Low rough voice, usually because their throat is sore.
Honeyed - Falsely sweet voice.
Husky - A husky voice is deep and sounds hoarse often in an attractive way.
Low - Quiet and difficult to hear / in a deep voice.
Matter-of-fact - Used about someone’s behavior or voice.
Modulated - Controlled and pleasant to listen to.
Monotonous - Boring because it does not change in loudness or become higher or lower.
Orotund - Loud and clear.
Penetrating - So high or loud that it makes you uncomfortable.
Plummy - This word shows that you dislike people who speak like this.
Quietly - In a quiet voice.
Raucous - Loud and sounds rough.
Ringing - very loud and clear.
Rough - Not soft and is unpleasant to listen to.
Shrill - Very loud, high, and unpleasant.
Silvery - Clear, light, and pleasant.
Singsong - Rises and falls in a musical way.
Small - A small voice or sound is quiet.
Smoky - Sexually attractive in a slightly mysterious way.
Softly Spoken - A quiet gentle voice.
Sotto Voce - A very quiet voice.
Stentorian - Loud and severe.
Strangulated - One that someone stops before they finish making it.
Strident - Loud and unpleasant.
Taut - Shows someone is nervous or angry.
Thick - Voice sounds less clear because of an emotion.
Thin - High and unpleasant to listen to.
Throaty - Low and seems to come from deep in your throat.
Tight - Shows that you are nervous or annoyed.
Toneless - Does not express any emotion.
Tremulous - It is not steady because you are afraid or excited.
Wheezy - Has difficulty breathing.
Wobbly - Unstable tone due to fright or emotions.