outside voice
noun
plural outside voices
1
: a person whose opinion, perspective, etc. differs from one's own or from that of a particular group
By being an objective outside voice, the board chair can reduce the likelihood of extreme performance outcomes …—
Ryan Krause et al.
Ryan Krause et al.Convinced I was right, I sought an outside voice: Judge John Hodgman, the comedian who writes a satiric ethical advice column for The New York Times Magazine. I explained our impasse in an email, and Hodgman replied in the May 20 issue …—Andrew Silow-Carroll
Andrew Silow-CarrollThe hard part about relationships is just trying to be in one without a million outside voices interfering.—Travis Scott, quoted at usmagazine.com
Travis Scott, quoted at usmagazine.comMy personal insight and advice to you is … to quiet outside voices, grow a backbone, and to be in charge of your life …—Amy Dickinson
Amy Dickinson
also
: an opinion, perspective, etc. that differs from one's own or that of a particular group
This is a painstakingly crafted treatise on what it's like to live inside your own mind in an age where millions of outside voices are bombarding that mind endlessly. —Drew Magary
Drew Magary … a long piece, with some good outside voices in it, was unplanned and written in one intense sprint. —Bradford Doolittle
Bradford Doolittle 2
: a volume of speaking that is typically considered too loud to be used indoors (as at home or school)
… corrections like "sit still" or "you're using your outside voice, please use your inside voice" …—Nancy Doyle
Nancy Doyle… at exactly the moment we were walking past a lineup at the check-out, in all innocence, she [a young child] used her loud outside voice and asked: "What colour are your panties, Grandma?"—Helene Oseen
compare inside voice
Helene OseenExamples of outside voice in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The team and outside voices have repeatedly noted this next hire needs to be more about Davis and less about James, the soon-to-be 40-year-old star who is still expected to return to the Lakers.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2024
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outside voice.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near outside voice
Cite this Entry
“Outside voice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outside%20voice. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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