hushed tone
Barely audible speech
A hushed tone is a quiet, soft manner of speaking—nearly a whisper.
People speak in hushed tones to avoid being overheard, to show reverence, or to convey secrecy: They discussed the scandal in hushed tones.
The phrase often implies something serious, solemn, or confidential is being communicated.
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- stage whisperLoud whisper for spectators
- murmurSoft, indistinct continuous sound
- softYielding to touch
- quietLacking in sound
secretive · confidential · behind closed doors · secret meeting · intimate · low · muffled · subdued · gentle · library voice · breathless · conspiratorial · library · reverent · solemn · funeral parlor · urgent · private
- silencequiet, silent, mute, stillness, muted
- whisperswhisper, whispering, soft voice, low voice, murmurs
- quiet voiceswhisper, murmur, quiet voice, sotto voce, susurration
- Muted qualitiessilence, quiet, stillness, whisper, murmur
- emphasisstress, accent, stressing, highlighting, underscoring
- stage devicessoliloquy, monologue, stage whisper, byplay, fourth wall break
social appropriateness/context
hushed toneproclamation
Formal public announcement
public announcement · announcement · broadcast · loud and clear · stage voice
hush, hushed, hushes, hushing, tone, tones, toned, toning, tonal