hoarse

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

Synonyms

• gruff
• husky
• coarse
• rusty
• rasping

Examples of hoarse in a Sentence

She could only speak in a hoarse whisper.

The cold made me a little hoarse.

Recent Examples on the Web

For most of his first 10 songs, Costello’s singing was ragged and hoarse. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025

Screamed himself hoarse and still tried calling for his brother. —Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025

Lately, there has been one with a hoarse screech calling me. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 27 May 2025

Signs someone has swallowed a button battery include: noisy breathing, coughing, drooling, difficulty swallowing, a hoarse voice, vomiting, chest or abdominal pain, and gagging, coughing or choking with eating or drinking. —Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 8 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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