Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
full-throated

full-throated

7 7.0
Loud and strong in voice or speech and full of enthusiasm
  • adjective
  • /fʊlˈθroʊtɪd/
translation icon : a voz en cuello
  • When Irish Americans belted out the full-throated patriotic verses of George M. Cohan's songs, they undoubtedly voiced their genuine love for their homeland.
  • full-throated defense
  • full-throated endorsement
  • full-throated scream

Now it's like full throated defense, if not going on offense against the person who tries to do the cancelling.

Examples

  • Fanciful and witty, clever and full-throated, the article is, before all other things, a piece of entertainment.

    Blog text (30)

  • I can't imagine why a liberal might shy away from full-throated support of such an organization.

    Blog text (34)

  • So we really need to be thinking about are there ways we can have funding structures that allow full throated critique where necessary.

  • Any serious attempt to revivify the GOP might begin with a full-throated stand for a strong national defense.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Meanwhile, union leaders have engaged in a full-throated campaign to discredit the district's numbers and the people that produce them.

    Blog text (24)

  • A minimal statement recognizing the apparent resignation of Chavez turns into full-throated support for a coup.

    Blog text (26)

  • What Kristen did was foul, but I give Dakota Fanning credit for giving a full-throated defense of her friend and colleague.

    Blog text (18)

  • The D.C.-based League of Conservation Voters gave Inslee a full-throated endorsement, breaking its long-standing policy of not endorsing gubernatorial candidates.

    Blog text (29)

  • Instead, why don't we call for strong, lion-hearted, full-throated support (monetary, ideological, resource-related) for WHOMEVER is nominated?

    Blog text (26)

  • At the rally, the crowd gave a full-throated cheer for the candidate, showing their enthusiastic support.

Synonyms

loud
vsfull-throated
447 1.0

In a way that makes a lot of noise

is forceful and full of unrestrained enthusiasm rather than mere high volume
vocal
vsfull-throated
87 4.9

Saying opinions clearly and strongly in public

expresses with stronger sound and unrestrained enthusiasm not just insistence
loud-voiced
vsfull-throated
4.4

A person who speaks very loudly so others hear them

expresses with stronger sound and clear unrestrained enthusiasm

Antonyms

soft-spoken
20 3.9

A person who speaks in a quiet, gentle voice

restrained
5.3

Calm and controlled, not strong or showy

How Loud

full-throated
7 7.0
booming
3 3.4
loud
733 1.0
quiet
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

full-throated positive

Morphology

full-throated = full + throat (semi-transparent) = full + throat + ed

The phrase is compositionally built from 'full' + 'throat' (with throat forming an adjective via '-ed'), so the connection to voice is clear but the idiomatic sense 'forceful/loud' requires a small inferential leap.

Etymology

The word full-throated comes from the idea of full ('complete' or 'strong') use of the throat when singing or speaking. That's why full-throated describes a loud, strong, and enthusiastic voice or expression.