stertorous

[stur-ter-uhs]

adjective

1. characterized by stertor or heavy snoring.

2. breathing in this manner.

stertorous

/ ˈstɜːtərəs /

adjective

1. marked or accompanied by heavy snoring

2. breathing in this way

Other Word Forms

• stertorousness noun
• stertorously adverb
• poststertorous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stertorous¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; stertor + -ous

Example Sentences

Each instant he seemed as though he would open his eyes and speak; but then would follow a prolonged stertorous breath, and he would relapse into a more fixed insensibility.

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Orr was breathing rhythmically with a noise that was stertorous and repulsive.

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It had something to do with his stertorous, slightly nasal-breathy way of speaking: a vocal tic to compare with De Niro or Brando.

Read more on The Guardian

The unnerving sound of human breathing, at times gasping and stertorous, threads through it, before becoming the work's own death rattle as the music ebbs away.

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The Rolls-Royce gave a faintly stertorous sigh and began to move.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• discordant 
• gravelly 
• gruff 
• harsh 
• raucous 
• throaty