breathy
Americanadjective
adjective
-
(of the speaking voice) accompanied by an audible emission of breath
-
(of the singing voice) lacking resonance
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of breathy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
As drivers ratchet up to Sport and Race modes on the manettino controller, the active exhaust valves allow more volume and breathy resonance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
But the most notable aspect of the president’s hoarse and breathy address was what he didn’t say.
From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026
Parks' breathy vocals and soul-searching introspection fit snugly within the musical world she's created.
From BBC ● Apr. 2, 2026
PinkPantheress broke out in 2021 with a series of charming and inventive singles that placed her high, breathy vocals over skittering beats built around easily recognizable samples.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2025
Kitae’s missing front teeth caused him to sound like a breathy whistle as he struggled for air.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
Trans women usually seek out a higher pitched, breathier voice as these are traits typically perceived as feminine.
From Science Magazine ● Dec. 17, 2023
The study also found that the longer someone underwent vocal therapy, the larger their glottal gap became, giving them a higher pitch and breathier voice.
From Science Magazine ● Dec. 17, 2023
Their laughs are lower-pitched and breathier than that of humans.
From National Geographic ● Feb. 2, 2018
At first the nasal, twerpy whine deepened and straightened itself out into something breathier and more emotional; then the emotion slowly drained away until he became austere.
From New York Times ● Apr. 10, 2011
But, actually, I’m gasping between each word, so it’s breathier than that.
From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle
Ms. Jepsen is at her breathiest here: “I wanna play this for you all the time/I wanna play this for you when you’re feeling used and tired.”
From New York Times ● Aug. 19, 2015
She also did her breathiest “Hi, I’m Elizabeth Taylor” to Edward Albee, the playwright of “Virginia Woolf.”
From New York Times ● Jun. 9, 2011
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