VOICELESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does voiceless mean? 

• VOICELESS (adjective)
  The adjective VOICELESS has 4 senses:

1. produced without vibration of the vocal cords

2. deprived of the rights of citizenship especially the right to vote

3. uttered without voice

4. being without sound through injury or illness and thus incapable of all but whispered speech

  Familiarity information: VOICELESS used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VOICELESS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Produced without vibration of the vocal cords

Synonyms:

hard; surd; unvoiced; voiceless

Context example:

unvoiced consonants such as 'p' and 'k' and 's'

Similar:

whispered (spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords)

Derivation:

voicelessness (speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Deprived of the rights of citizenship especially the right to vote

Synonyms:

disenfranchised; disfranchised; voiceless; voteless

Context example:

disenfrenchised masses took to the streets

Derivation:

voicelessness (having no voice in the management or control of affairs)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Uttered without voice

Synonyms:

breathed; voiceless

Context example:

voiceless whispers

Similar:

inaudible; unhearable (impossible to hear; imperceptible by the ear)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Being without sound through injury or illness and thus incapable of all but whispered speech

Synonyms:

aphonic; voiceless

Similar:

inarticulate; unarticulate (without or deprived of the use of speech or words)

Derivation:

voicelessness (a disorder of the vocal organs that results in the loss of voice)

 Context examples 

From the tortures of my own heart, I turned to contemplate the deep and voiceless grief of my Elizabeth.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)