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Glite Dictionary
croaky

croaky

1 4.4
A rough, hoarse voice like a frog
  • adjective
  • /ˈkroʊki/
translation icon : ronco
  • Above the roar of the constantly rolling surf, the croaky sounds of the waterlogged harmonium can be heard.
  • croaky voice
  • croaky sounds

Examples

  • My wife's voice sounded small and inadequate, and mine was croaky from an evening's disuse.

    Academic text (1993)

  • I've gotten a lot of comments about it, like I'm sick or like I sound croaky, but here's a clip of my voice a few years ago.

  • I apologize in advance for my croaky voice getting over a cold.

  • Jack started singing in a croaky baritone, "Happy Birthday to Jack," then stopped.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • He had a very deep voice, croaky from all the smoking he did.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • "Archie's croaky voice called from the front stairs.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • I will always remember how creepy and croaky the church could become when empty, the windows opaque and dark.

    Blog text (15)

  • I listened as they sang against the unrelenting thunder, and then I joined in with my own croaky voice, with the same nonsense dinosaur word - "Yar-wooo!"

    Fiction book (2001)

  • "What do you want me to do?" he asks, in a croaky voice.

  • "Her voice was thin and croaky from lack of use."

Synonyms

hoarse
vscroaky
25 3.4

A rough voice that sounds strained from a sore throat or shouting

is similar in roughness but focuses on general rasping quality
gruff
vscroaky
16 5.7

A rough, low voice or way of acting that sounds unfriendly

is about rough voice quality without implying an unfriendly manner
scratchy
vscroaky
14 3.7

Harsh, rough sound or voice that is unpleasant to hear

shares unpleasant roughness but emphasizes rasp rather than grit
raspy
vscroaky
13 5.8

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

is rough and hoarse but may be less grating in tone
creaky
vscroaky
12 4.1

A harsh sound something makes when it moves, for example an old door or a tired voice

relates to voice roughness but stems from creakiness, not vocal rasp
throaty
vscroaky
7 6.1

A low, deep sound that comes from the throat

is rougher and raspier rather than simply deep and husky
gravelly
vscroaky
7 6.5

A low, rough voice that sounds harsh and scratchy

keeps roughness but without the specific gravel gritty image
guttural
vscroaky
4 8.2

A harsh, deep sound made in the throat

is rough but not necessarily produced deep in the throat
froggish
vscroaky
8.2

A hoarse, rough voice like a frog

is a general rough voice image, not only an animal likeness
froggy
vscroaky
6.5

Having a hoarse, rough voice for a short time

is not limited to temporary cases and feels more general
harsh-voiced
vscroaky
6.8

A voice or sound that is rough and unpleasant

is more specifically a hoarse, rasping quality like a croak

Antonyms

smooth
204 1.0

Moving or happening in an even, easy way without sudden problems

clear
40 1.0

Pure and distinct in sound or colour

How Hoarse

gravelly
7 6.5
raspy
13 5.8
croaky
1 4.4
hoarse
25 3.4
husky
14 5.3

Surface Forms

croaky positive

Morphology

croaky = croak (transparent) = croak + y

The adjective 'croaky' is transparently derived from the verb 'croak' with the addition of the suffix '-y', indicating a quality or characteristic.

Etymology

Croaky comes from the sound word croak, which means 'to make a low rough sound' like a frog or a crow, and the ending -y means 'full of' or 'having', as in hairy. So croaky describes a voice that sounds rough or like a frog's call.