scratchy

Examples

• All

• As she spoke, her scratchy voice made it difficult to understand her words.

• "Go see Massengale!" he called, his voice scratchy through the comm.

  Fiction book (1994)

• I, I come with a cold and a scratchy voice.

• He'll read the big book in that scratchy voice.

  Thirteen (2003)

• I sure won't miss your scratchy old records.

  Tough Guys (1986)

• "Georgia," he sang with a kind of deep abandon in his scratchy voice.

  Fiction book (1992)

• So I'm I've got a little scratchy throat and I'll be drinking plenty of water.

• Another voice, petulant, strained, and scratchy, seemed to come out of the walls around them.

  Fiction book (1992)

• I didn't see you." Her voice was scratchy, and she blinked rapidly.

  Fiction book (2001)

• "Rehearsal's canceled," she says, her voice scratchy like she has laryngitis.

  Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

R

rough

vsscratchy

164 1.0

Not smooth and often harsh in sound

applies to sound harshness specifically rather than general unevenness

S

squeaky

vsscratchy

67 1.3

Making a high, sharp sound like a mouse or hinge

is harsh too but not limited to thin, shrill tones

J

jarring

vsscratchy

20 6.1

A loud, harsh sound that feels unpleasant and surprising

is unpleasant but more narrowly about scraping or rough texture

R

raspy

vsscratchy

13 5.8

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

shares harshness but is less about low, coarse tone

T

throaty

vsscratchy

7 6.1

A low, deep sound that comes from the throat

is harsh and grating rather than deep and husky

G

gravelly

vsscratchy

7 6.5

A low, rough voice that sounds harsh and scratchy

shares harshness but often sounds lower and more rumbling

C

cacophonous

vsscratchy

2 8.4

Making a loud, harsh noise that is unpleasant to hear

is similar in unpleasantness but focuses on a single harsh source

S

screechy

vsscratchy

2 5.4

A high, harsh, unpleasant sound like a loud scream

is harsh too but not specifically very high pitched

J

jangly

vsscratchy

1 8.1

A thin, harsh ringing sound like metal hitting together

is harsh too but usually not metallic or ringing

C

crackly

vsscratchy

1 3.9

Making small sharp sounds like dry things breaking or moving

is harsh but not focused on crisp, popping sounds

G

grating

vsscratchy

1 6.2

A harsh, unpleasant sound or voice that is hard to listen to

is similar but can be less sharp in texture

S

squawky

vsscratchy

1 7.5

A loud harsh sound like a bird's cry that is unpleasant

is similarly unpleasant but not necessarily loud or birdlike

S

shrieky

vsscratchy

1 7.2

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

is harsh but often less loud and piercing

S

screamy

vsscratchy

1 8.2

Very loud and high in sound like a scream

keeps unpleasant harshness but not necessarily extreme loudness

S

squealing

vsscratchy

1 4.1

A high, sharp sound made by a mouse or brakes

is unpleasantly harsh but can be lower and rougher

C

cacophonic

vsscratchy

1 9.3

Has a loud, harsh sound that is unpleasant

is the same unpleasantness but often about one sound only

C

croaky

vsscratchy

1 4.4

A rough, hoarse voice like a frog

is unpleasantly harsh but not specifically hoarse or low

S

stridulous

vsscratchy

9.9

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

is similar but used more generally for voices or sounds

R

rasping

vsscratchy

6.9

Harsh and rough in a way that hurts the ears

is similar but focuses on roughness rather than scraping

H

harsh-voiced

vsscratchy

6.8

A voice or sound that is rough and unpleasant

matches this harsh vocal quality but is more general

U

unmelodious

vsscratchy

8.0

Not having a pleasant, musical sound

is rough and grating but not defined by musicality

Antonyms

P

pleasant

314 1.0

Giving a gentle feeling of enjoyment

How Harsh

grating

1 6.2

raspy

13 5.8

scratchy

14 3.7

hoarse

25 3.4

soft

• Specialized

12 4.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology