gravelly

[ grav-uh-lee ]

adjective

1. of, like, or abounding in gravel.
2. harsh and grating:

   a gravelly voice.

gravelly

/ ˈɡrævəlɪ /

adjective

1. consisting of or abounding in gravel
2. of or like gravel
3. (esp of a voice) harsh and grating

Other Words From

• un·gravel·ly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gravelly¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, gravelly is from the Middle English word gravelli. See gravel, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Within the first quarter-mile, I was off the bike and pushing it, the loose, gravelly surface being too tricky for me to navigate on the full-suspension Commençal e-bike I borrowed from Chase.

From Outside Online

There’s also the Soma Buena Vista, a mixte that’s on the racy end of the spectrum for the rider looking for something more road-bike-oriented, as well as the gravelly Larkspur 2 from Marin.

From Outside Online

If you’re heading for a more gravelly, rocky, or dense area, you should be fine with small tires, so long as they provide a little bit of traction.

From Popular-Science

Then, they would pitch camp along the gravelly banks for three weeks.

From Popular-Science

“A certain view of history contends that the historical narrative is just one fiction among others,” Raoul Peck’s deep, gravelly voice asserts near the beginning of Exterminate All the Brutes.

From Vox

He drained the wine from the tumbler and turned away from the window, and there was no self-pity in his gravelly voice.

From The Daily Beast

It looks a bit older, but once you hear that gravelly-squeaky Tennessee twang, it hits you: this is Lori Petty.

From The Daily Beast

This classic Diesel cover of “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)” is as gravelly as it is adorable.

From The Daily Beast

And Hill fully embodies Donnie, a morally bankrupt clown with shiny, capped teeth, suspenders, and a gravelly voice.

From The Daily Beast

Plus Neeson, with his towering height, brawny physique, and gravelly voice, sure as hell looks the part.

From The Daily Beast

They walked through the gravelly business streets and out into the suburbs, where log cabins alternated with tents.

From Project Gutenberg

In August and September the females gather about the mouths of gravelly brooks, whither they resort to make their spawning beds.

From Project Gutenberg

Light sandy soils or loose gravelly soils will not give such good results.

From Project Gutenberg

Ralph accordingly gathered the bedding in a bundle and stole down to the boat, the bow of which was drawn upon the gravelly bank.

From Project Gutenberg

Tho' the Soil at Darmstadt is very gravelly, it produces excellent Pulse.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• discordant
• gruff
• harsh
• raucous
• throaty