raspy
Rough, like sandpaper
Raspy describes a rough, grating quality in sound—typically a voice that's harsh or scratchy: Her voice was raspy from shouting at the concert.
The texture suggests friction or wear, whether from illness, overuse, or natural timbre.
Some singers cultivate a raspy quality for its emotional rawness.
Rough in voice
- huskyRough-voiced or stocky
- gravellyContaining small stones
- croakyRough-sounding, like illness
- gruffHarsh in manner
throaty · guttural · strained · scratchy · whispery · smoky · rough · harsh
Abrasive-coated finishing material
scratchy · bristly · uneven · jagged · grainy · scaly · prickly · textured
Crossed bars or harsh
- scrapingRubbing away material
- scratchingRaking with nails
- grindingMolar action sometimes
- creakingHarsh, strained noise
harsh · jarring · discordant · strident · screeching · squeaking · friction · abrasive
hoarse
Rough in voice
gruff · throaty · guttural · strained · scratchy · whispery · smoky · rough · harsh · deep
sandpaper
Abrasive-coated finishing material
coarse · scratchy · bristly · uneven · jagged · grainy · scaly · prickly · textured · harsh
grating
Crossed bars or harsh
- scrapingRubbing away material
- scratchingRaking with nails
- grindingMolar action sometimes
creaking · harsh · jarring · discordant · strident · screeching · squeaking · friction · abrasive · rough
wheeze
Whistling labored breath
labored · shallow · strained · harsh · dry · crackling · congested · difficult · bronchial · asthmatic
- breathingbreathing, inhalation, breath, exhalation, breathe
- sound qualitiesloudness, pitch, tone, faintness, clarity
- speech qualitiesarticulate, clear, loud, soft, quiet
- timbretimbre, tone color, quality, resonance, overtones
- singing termsduet, aria, hum, alto, soprano
- verbal qualitieseloquence, fluency, articulate, clarity, coherence
raspysmooth
Without roughness or difficulty
silky · melodious · velvety · mellifluous · clear
raspysmooth
Without roughness or difficulty
silken · mellifluous · euphonous · harmonious · fluid
- raspy voiceHarsh, scratchy speech quality
- wood raspToothed tool for shaping timber