grating

Examples

• All

• The music and language of the city dweller are often harsh and grating.

  Academic text (2001)

• The only problem was, everything I composed was always more grating than great.

  Date with an Angel (1987)

• Then a sharp, grating, screaming sound came from somewhere below.

  Fiction book (2001)

• It's as grating as hearing Al Sharpton's voice.

  Blog text (2)

• The creaking becomes a rusty, grating, angry sound.

  Blog text (18)

• I find it so grating to listen to sort of nasal, it's glottal.

  Megyn Kelly

• It is so loud and grating; I am sure some viewers would find it disturbing, as it comes without warning and the volume needs to be switched to almost zero until it finishes, and then turned up to continue with the presentation.

  Blog text (24)

• Q: The overwhelming negativity toward LeBron this postseason—when he's been incredible—has gotten so grating and annoying that it almost feels as if some fans are becoming sympathetic to him.

  Blog text (2)

• The grating sound of nails on a chalkboard made everyone wince.

• His grating tone during the meeting annoyed his coworkers.

Synonyms

R

raucous

vsgrating

31 7.1

Making a loud, rough, and unpleasant sound that hurts your ears

is not necessarily loud but stresses abrasive sound quality

J

jarring

vsgrating

20 6.1

A loud, harsh sound that feels unpleasant and surprising

is more about rough, abrasive sound texture than sudden shock

S

scratchy

vsgrating

14 3.7

Harsh, rough sound or voice that is unpleasant to hear

focuses on sudden jolt or shock to the ear rather than rubbing texture

R

raspy

vsgrating

13 5.8

A rough, harsh voice or sound that feels unpleasant to hear

focuses on sudden ear shock rather than merely coarse texture

G

gravelly

vsgrating

7 6.5

A low, rough voice that sounds harsh and scratchy

focuses on causing a jolt or sharp annoyance rather than grainy texture

C

cacophonous

vsgrating

2 8.4

Making a loud, harsh noise that is unpleasant to hear

focuses on a single abrasive sound rather than many clashing ones

E

ear-piercing

vsgrating

1 4.1

Very loud, high sound that hurts your ears

is unpleasant mainly for abrasive texture not only high pitch or volume

C

cacophonic

vsgrating

1 9.3

Has a loud, harsh sound that is unpleasant

is narrower pointing to texture of a sound not overall clash

S

squealing

vsgrating

1 4.1

A high, sharp sound made by a mouse or brakes

is unpleasant due to coarse abrasive quality rather than just high pitch

S

shrieky

vsgrating

1 7.2

Making a very high, loud, annoying sound that hurts your ears

is more about roughness to the ear than sheer high pitch

S

screamy

vsgrating

1 8.2

Very loud and high in sound like a scream

is unpleasant because of abrasive texture rather than scream-like intensity

R

rasping

vsgrating

6.9

Harsh and rough in a way that hurts the ears

expresses a sudden jarring quality rather than the slow scraping feel

R

raspatory

vsgrating

9.9

Making a harsh, grating sound like metal scraping

is about sudden jolt and discomfort rather than scraping motion

H

harsh-voiced

vsgrating

6.8

A voice or sound that is rough and unpleasant

applies to any harsh sound not only voices

S

stridulous

vsgrating

9.9

Making a loud, harsh, grating sound like some insects make

is about harshness that shocks the ear rather than creaking motion

U

unmelodious

vsgrating

8.0

Not having a pleasant, musical sound

stresses abrasive or jarring quality instead of absence of melody

I

inconsonant

vsgrating

9.9

Making a harsh, clashing sound

is about abrasive harshness rather than formal musical dissonance

Antonyms

P

pleasant

314 1.0

Giving a gentle feeling of enjoyment

S

soothing

81 2.9

That makes pain or worry feel less strong

Compounds

D

diffraction grating

• Specialized

8.4

A flat piece with many close lines that splits light into colors

How Harsh

earsplitting

6.3

rasping

6.9

grating

1 6.2

harsh

47 3.9

rough

164 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology