Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kennedy, 71, has spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological condition in which the muscles that open and close his vocal cords spasm involuntarily, creating a strained or strangled quality to his speech.—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025 Her upcoming short film Amid the Noise & Haste explores the underrepresented trans experience of dysphonia.—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 29 July 2025 Hearing the diagnosis of spasmodic dysphonia from the specialist was devastating.—David Chiu, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 Examples of dysphonia causes include laryngitis, noncancerous growths on the vocal cords, acid reflux, vocal cord thinning, nerve or muscle-related disorders, and laryngeal cancer.—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 5 July 2025 For some, Kennedy is shining a light on spasmodic dysphonia.—Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025 The most common type of spasmodic dysphonia is called adductor dysphonia, which accounts for 80% of cases.—Indu Subramanian, The Conversation, 1 May 2025 Spasmodic dysphonia is a neurological disorder that causes muscle spasms in the voice box or larynx, according to the NIH.—Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 29 Jan. 2025
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin dysphōnia, probably from dys-dys- + -phōnia (in euphōniaeuphony)
Note:
Alternatively, the New Latin word could be borrowed from Greek dysphōnía "roughness of sound."
Share