Words To Describe Voice In Writing

200+ Words to Describe a Voice in Vivid Ways

There are many ways to describe a voice from the tone of voice a person uses to what the voice actually sounds like. Whether you're looking for the right way to explain a real person's voice or to describe a narrator's voice in literature, you're sure to find what you need in this extensive list of words to describe voice.

ways to describe a voice with girl shouting

Positive Words to Describe Tone of Voice

Try one of these options if you're looking for a positive word to describe tone in the context of a person's voice.

authoritative
caring
cheery
conversational
casual
enthusiastic
firm
formal
frank
friendly
hesitant
humorous
informative
irreverent
matter-of-fact
nostalgic
passionate
playful
professional
respectful
serious
sympathetic
trustworthy
upbeat
witty

Words to Describe a Condescending Tone of Voice

Many different terms can be used to describe a condescending tone of voice.

affected
arrogant
bumptious
disdainful
haughty
highfalutin
holier-than-thou
lofty
lordly
know-it-all
oleaginous
patronizing
pedantic
pompous
pontificating
pretentious
self-important
smarty-pants
smug
snobby
snooty
stiff-necked
supercilious
superior
toplofty

Negative Words to Describe Tone of Voice

If a person has a negative tone or if their voice is otherwise negative sounding, one of these words might describe in perfectly.

austere
bossy
croaky
dry
edgy
forceful
grating
growly
hateful
hokey
insincere
mawkish
overbearing
nasally
petulant
sarcastic
snarky
snarly
soporific
sullen
tuneless
unapologetic
wavering
whiny

Words to Describe Vocal Depth and Quality

Describing the depth or quality of the sound of a person's voice is a great way to clarify the description.

breaking
brittle
cacophonous
coarse
flat
gravelly
gruff
guttural
high pitched
hoarse
husky
low pitched
mellow
monotone
plaintive
raspy
resonant
rough
scratchy
squeaky
stilted
strong
trembling
tremulous

Words to Describe Vocal Volume

There are many ways to vividly convey the volume of an individual's voice.

bloodcurdling
boisterous
booming
caterwauling
screeching
ear-splitting
faint
feeble
frail
loud
lowered
orotund
penetrating
piercing
quiet
raucous
raised
ringing
shrill
soft
soft-spoken
strident
varied
weak
whisper

Words to Describe an Attractive or Pleasant Voice

A number of words can be used to describe what a pleasant-sounding, attractive voice sounds like.

bright
captivating
comforting
deep
ethereal
euphonic
feathery
fruity
hypnotic
insouciant
lilting
luscious
mesmerizing
modulated
musical
provocative
regal
rich
romantic
sensuous
sexy
silvery
smoky
soothing
sweet

Words to Describe a Beautiful Singing Voice

There are many ways to describe a beautiful singing voice.

alto
angelic
breathy
baritone
countertenor
delicate
dulcet
euphonious
falsetto
fantastic
harmonious
hauntingly beautiful
high
lovely
low
lyrical
magnificent
majestic
melodic
multi-octave
powerful
range
tenor
tuneful
warbling

Phrases to Describe Voice

Sometimes a single word or two won't be sufficient to properly describe voice. In such cases, phrases are better options.

at the top of one's voice
barely above a whisper
brimming with glee
bubbling with enthusiasm
cold with anger
could shatter a glass
echoing in my ears
finding her voice
great set of pipes
have a say in the matter
honks like a foghorn
hurts my ears
impossible to hear
like an angel
like the beat of a drum
likes the sound of her own voice
music to my ears
raise your voice
sing like a bird
speak up for yourself
speak with one voice
spoken in an undertone
sweet as sugar
under his breath
would cause dogs to howl

Terms to Describe Voice in Literature

Of course, describing voice doesn't always focus on what an individual's voice sounds like. In literature, the word voice can be used to describe a type of narration, language choice, sentence structure, literary devices used, or an author's style or perspective.

active voice
author's voice
character voice
first-person point of view (POV)
fresh voice
important voice
inflections
omniscient narrator
passive voice
speech patterns
second-person point of view (POV)
strong voice
syntax
third-person point of view (POV)
voice of a generation

Enhance Your Writing With Descriptive Language

With so many options available, it's not difficult to vividly describe the sound of someone's voice. Choosing the right words can really bring a story to life for readers. The more accurate and colorful your descriptions are, the better your writing will be. Now that you know a lot of different ways that a voice can be described, discover even more descriptive words that can enhance your writing. Once you've done that, spend some time learning how to better engage readers in your work.