hardly audible

USAGE SUMMARY

"hardly audible" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means something is very difficult to hear or barely able to be heard. It can be used in many contexts, such as describing a faint sound, a distant voice, or a quiet speaker. Here is an example: As the storm raged outside, the old radio broadcast was hardly audible over the howling winds.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"The sounds they object to are soft, hardly audible sounds".

The New York Times - Health

Here, when her tone didn't sound effortful, she was hardly audible over the orchestra.

The New York Times - Arts

After a few seconds, the pebble creates a hardly audible plop in the water.

The Guardian

"The sounds they object to are soft, hardly audible sounds". One patient is driven crazy by her beloved dog licking its paws.

The New York Times - Health

Suddenly, even though it is hardly audible, an, "om" pierces the stillness, rising into a crescendo, ringing about the room, and again, suddenly, there is silence.

The New York Times

A few weeks ago, I noticed the crow was hardly audible and was told that the battery had to be replaced.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He enters the water with a barely audible "Pffffft!", hardly causing a ripple.

The Guardian - Sport

Upon his arrival late last summer, Layden kept a low profile, remained a barely audible and hardly visible executive, and did nothing to improve the Knicks before the trade deadline.

The New York Times - Sports

The space is intimate, some of the exchanges are barely audible, although that hardly matters for a British audience because the simultaneous translation is blaring in your ears.

The Guardian

"I've hardly fished this last year or so," he said, in a deep, barely audible monotone.

The New Yorker

But at 8 p.m. the cellphone alarms were barely audible over the noise of passing traffic, and by the time they went silent — about a minute later — it hardly felt as if anything had taken place.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a sound that is "hardly audible", provide context about the surrounding environment. For example, mention background noise or distance that contributes to the sound's faintness.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly audible" when the sound is completely inaudible. The phrase indicates that the sound is still perceptible, albeit with difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hardly audible" is that of an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its quality of being difficult to hear. Ludwig AI indicates that it is used to describe something barely able to be heard. For instance, "a hardly audible whisper."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

9%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hardly audible" describes something that is very difficult to hear. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It typically functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying nouns to indicate the faintness of a sound. While the phrase is relatively uncommon, appearing primarily in News & Media, understanding its usage helps to precisely convey the degree to which a sound can be perceived. Alternatives include "barely perceptible" and "faintly audible".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost inaudible

Indicates the sound is close to being completely unheard.

faintly audible

Emphasizes the weak or subdued nature of the sound.

barely perceptible

Focuses on the difficulty in perceiving the sound rather than just hearing it.

scarcely detectable

Highlights the challenge in noticing the sound's presence.

muted

Implies the sound is softened or muffled, making it hard to hear clearly.

softly heard

Describes the gentle or quiet quality of the sound.

dimly heard

Conveys a sense of the sound being obscured or unclear.

subdued

Suggests the sound is restrained or reduced in intensity.

whisper-thin

Metaphorically describes the sound as being as thin or fine as a whisper.

murmurous

Implies a low, indistinct, and continuous sound.

FAQs

What does "hardly audible" mean?

The phrase "hardly audible" means something is very difficult to hear or barely perceptible. It suggests that the sound is faint but still detectable.

What can I say instead of "hardly audible"?

You can use alternatives like "barely perceptible", "faintly audible", or "almost inaudible" depending on the context.

Is "hardly audible" grammatically correct?

Yes, "hardly audible" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English to describe sounds that are difficult to hear.

How do I use "hardly audible" in a sentence?

You can use "hardly audible" to describe a variety of sounds. For example: "The whisper was "hardly audible" in the crowded room".