Synonyms of raspy

raspy

adjective

ˈra-spē 

1

as in irritable

easily irritated or annoyed

overwork tends to make him raspy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritable
• fiery
• petulant
• snappish
• irascible
• peevish
• waspish
• crotchety
• grumpy
• grouchy
• snarky
• passionate
• cross
• pettish
• testy
• choleric
• out of humor
• stuffy
• crabby
• cranky
• snippy
• out of sorts
• sensitive
• ratty
• short
• snarly
• querulous
• perverse
• short-tempered
• prickly
• snappy
• snippety
• ornery
• bilious
• cantankerous
• belligerent
• curmudgeonly
• quick-tempered
• surly
• pugnacious
• contentious
• dyspeptic
• disagreeable
• combative
• fretful
• argumentative
• bellicose
• sulky
• pouty
• sullen
• truculent
• ill-tempered
• scrappy
• off-color
• tetchy
• quarrelsome
• bearish
• ill-humored
• fractious
• cross-grained
• huffy
• ill-natured
• disputatious
• touchy
• thin-skinned
• hot-blooded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• friendly
• sweet
• outgoing
• affable
• cordial
• gregarious
• genial
• companionable
• extroverted
• amiable
• sociable
• good-natured
• agreeable
• easygoing
• carefree
• relaxed
• patient
• stoic
• good-tempered
• tolerant
• well-disposed
• understanding
• uncomplaining
• forbearing
• long-suffering
• obliging
• happy-go-lucky

2

as in hoarse

harsh and dry in sound

the dying man spoke in a barely audible, raspy voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hoarse
• gruff
• husky
• throaty
• gravelly
• coarse
• rusty
• scratchy
• rasping
• croaky
• gravel
• grating
• croaking
• guttural
• choked
• growling
• strangled
• abrasive
• strained
• growly
• raucous
• strident
• scratching
• scraping
• rough
• cacophonous
• grinding
• jarring
• discordant
• cracked
• dissonant
• unmusical
• screeching
• squawking
• inharmonious
• cawing
• unmelodious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sweet
• gentle
• liquid
• mellow
• mellifluous
• golden
• soothing
• smooth
• tender
• soft
• velvety
• silken
• mellifluent
• satiny
• melodic
• musical
• melodious
• lyrical
• gliding
• lyric
• euphonious

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of raspy

So, too, is the film’s music, composer Anthony Willis and soundtrack artist Charli XCX entwining raspy strings with grimy, ominous shudders. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026

The raspy voice on the other end of the line gave the intruder instructions. — Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026

Folk-rock Ike Reilly Assassination frontman Ike Reilly opened the show with a 15-minute acoustic set; just a guitar, a harmonica and his son, Shane, singing tight harmonies against Reilly’s raspy lead. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026

The birds are also known for their thrilling, raspy scream that Hollywood directors often use in films to emulate any hawk, and even raptors, according to Cornell. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 4 Dec. 2025