a disturbed voice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a disturbed voice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a voice that sounds upset, anxious, or troubled, often conveying strong emotions. Example: "She spoke with a disturbed voice, revealing her inner turmoil and fear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

So why for his first novel did he choose to speak in such a disturbed voice, as a child of suffering?

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

When British comedian David Firth uploaded Salad Fingers 1: Spoons to Newgrounds in 2004, it rapidly went viral before "going viral" was a thing, and now nobody over the age of 25 can make a tea without a disturbed little voice in the back of their head going "the feeling of rust against my salad fingers is almost orgasmic".

Vice

When British comedian David Firth uploaded Salad Fingers 1: Spoons to Newgrounds in 2004, it rapidly went viral before "going viral" was a thing, and now nobody over the age of 25 can make a cup of tea without a disturbed little voice in the back of their head going "the feeling of rust against my salad fingers is almost orgasmic".

Vice

It allows quantifying the intelligibility also in severely disturbed voices and speech.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Mike Fois, walking his beagle in the park, had ideas about the chopper: "Someone shopping for firewood, which is stupid — green trees are horrible for firewood"; a "disgruntled park worker"; "a disturbed person hearing voices in the tree".

The New Yorker

The vampire world is under attack from "the Voice", a disturbed telepathic force, which commands mass burnings of fledgling vampires.

The Guardian - Books

He was, by his own account, a disturbed and disturbing kid.

Huffington Post

Director Marjane Satrapi's The Voices is a comedy-horror film about a disturbed young man named Jerry Ryan Reynoldss), who works in a bathtub factory and harbors a crush on one of the women in the accounting department (Gemma Arterton).

Huffington Post

Fig. 8 Representative simulation results for a disturbed stand.

Carbon Balance and Management

"American Terrorist III" tells a disturbed soldier's story in his own words, alternating between Fiasco's voice and a robotic one (a great sonic and thematic touch).

Huffington Post

He's a disturbed kid.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a disturbed voice" when you want to convey that someone's voice reflects inner turmoil, anxiety, or emotional distress. It's most effective when describing a character's internal state.

Common error

While "disturbed" is acceptable, overuse can sound melodramatic. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "agitated", "strained", or more direct descriptions of the specific emotion affecting the speaker's voice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a disturbed voice" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, describing the quality or characteristic of the voice. It indicates that the voice is not normal or calm but rather reflects emotional distress. Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a disturbed voice" is a way to describe vocal expression conveying a state of unrest or emotional upset. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in English. While not frequently used, it effectively communicates that a person's voice reflects inner turmoil or anxiety. It most commonly appears in news and media or scientific contexts. When using "a disturbed voice", remember to consider alternatives like "an agitated voice" or "a troubled voice" to add variety and precision to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an agitated voice

Replaces "disturbed" with "agitated", focusing on the restlessness and heightened emotion conveyed by the voice.

a troubled voice

Substitutes "disturbed" with "troubled", emphasizing the worry or concern reflected in the voice.

a strained voice

Uses "strained" instead of "disturbed", highlighting the tension and effort in the voice, often due to stress or emotion.

a shaky voice

Replaces "disturbed" with "shaky", focusing on the instability and nervousness audible in the voice.

a trembling voice

Similar to "shaky voice", but emphasizes the physical trembling affecting the voice.

an emotional voice

A broader term that captures the heightened emotional state affecting the voice, without specifying the type of disturbance.

a voice filled with anxiety

More explicitly describes the emotion affecting the voice as anxiety or worry.

a voice heavy with sorrow

Indicates that the voice is affected by deep sadness or grief.

a voice betraying inner turmoil

Highlights that the voice is revealing a state of internal struggle or conflict.

a voice reflecting unease

Focuses on the discomfort and lack of ease conveyed through the voice.

FAQs

How can I use "a disturbed voice" in a sentence?

You can use "a disturbed voice" to describe someone's tone when they are upset or anxious. For example: "She spoke with "a disturbed voice", revealing her inner turmoil and fear."

What can I say instead of "a disturbed voice"?

You can use alternatives like "an agitated voice", "a troubled voice", or "a strained voice" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to describe a voice as "disturbed"?

Yes, "a disturbed voice" generally implies a negative emotional state, such as anxiety, fear, or sadness. It's rarely used in a positive context.

What's the difference between "a disturbed voice" and "a disturbing voice"?

"A disturbed voice" describes a voice that is troubled or upset, reflecting the speaker's internal state. "A disturbing voice", on the other hand, describes a voice that is unsettling or alarming to others.