breathy

adjective

ˈbre-thē How to pronounce breathy (audio)
breathier; breathiest
: characterized or accompanied by or as if by the audible passage of breath
breathily
ˈbre-thə-lē How to pronounce breathy (audio)
adverb
breathiness
ˈbre-thē-nəs How to pronounce breathy (audio)
noun

Examples of breathy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Meanwhile, a small group of women began singing in breathy, blended vocals that felt both ancient and futuristic. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 16 June 2026 One of the joys of Air, down to the breathy purity of its title, is its contempt for design—an easy target, but one for which Kracht has sharpened his blade. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 Over the years, Saturday Night Live has seen several stars put on the bottle blonde wig and emulate Monroe's breathy voice. — Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Throughout the past ten years, especially, that sound—breathy, close, a little woozy—has become synonymous with a certain artful, confessional, cool-girl aesthetic. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for breathy

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breathy was in 1849

Browse Nearby Words

breath work
breathy
breba
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Breathy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breathy. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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