Thin-toned

Thin-toned describes a sound, voice, or musical instrument's output that lacks richness, depth, or resonance. It conveys a sense of frailty, weakness, or a lack of fullness in the sound produced. This can be due to a deficiency in the sound's amplitude, frequency range, or the presence of undesirable overtones. The term often carries a negative connotation, suggesting a sound that is perceived as unpleasant, unappealing, or lacking the desirable characteristics of a fuller, more vibrant sound. This can be applied to human voices, musical instruments, sound recordings, or any system that produces sound waves. The implication often points toward an experience of the sound as being undesirable due to its perceived 'thinness'.

Thin-toned meaning with examples

• The vocalist's voice was a thin-toned whisper throughout the performance, barely carrying over the instrumentation. The lack of projection made it difficult for the audience to connect with the emotional nuances of the song. This led to many complaints as attendees said they could barely hear her.
• The cheap violin produced a thin-toned, reedy sound that grated on the ears. The instrument's construction and low-quality strings resulted in a poor tone quality, making it unpleasant to listen to during the recital. It was clear to all in attendance how bad the instrument was.
• The recording of the symphony suffered from a thin-toned quality, likely due to poor microphone placement or inadequate mixing. The instruments sounded muffled, lacking their full dynamic range. The lack of proper sound management led to the poor quality.
• He spoke in a thin-toned, hesitant voice, betraying his nervousness before the crowd. The pitch of his voice did not project well, revealing his insecurity. The audience quickly noticed how nervous he was.