What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Vocal vs Verbal - What's the difference?

vocal | verbal |

As adjectives the difference between vocal and verbal

is that vocal is of or pertaining to the voice or speech; having voice; endowed with utterance; full of voice, or voices while verbal is of or relating to words.

As nouns the difference between vocal and verbal

is that vocal is a vocal sound; specifically, a purely vocal element of speech, unmodified except by resonance; a vowel or a diphthong; a tonic element; a tonic; -- distinguished from a subvocal, and a nonvocalverbal is a verb form which does not function as a predicate, or a word derived from a verb. In English, infinitives, participles and gerunds are verbals.

As a verb verbal is

to induce into fabricating a confession.

vocal

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to the voice or speech; having voice; endowed with utterance; full of voice, or voices
  • * (rfdate) Milton,
  • To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, / Made vocal by my song.
    vocal problems
  • Uttered or modulated by the voice; oral; as, vocal' melody; '''vocal''' prayer, ' vocal worship.
  • Of or pertaining to a vowel or voice sound; also, spoken with tone, intonation, and resonance; sonant; sonorous; -- said of certain articulate sounds
  • (phonetics) Consisting of, or characterized by, voice, or tone produced in the larynx, which may be modified, either by resonance, as in the case of the vowels, or by obstructive action, as in certain consonants, such as v'', ''l'', etc., or by both, as in the nasals (m), (n), ''ng ; sonant; intonated; voiced. See voice, and vowel
  • (phonetics) Of or pertaining to a vowel; having the character of a vowel; vowel
  • a vocal sound
  • loud; getting oneself heard.
  • The protestors were very vocal in their message to the mayor.

    Derived terms

    * * * * * *

    Synonyms

    * (uttered or modulated by the voice) audible * (getting oneself heard) audible, loud

    Antonyms

    * (uttered or modulated by the voice) inaudible, quiet, silent, voiceless * (getting oneself heard) inaudible, quiet, silent

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (phonetics) A vocal sound; specifically, a purely vocal element of speech, unmodified except by resonance; a vowel or a diphthong; a tonic element; a tonic; -- distinguished from a subvocal', and a ' nonvocal
  • (Roman Catholic Church) A man who has a right to vote in certain elections.
  • verbal

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Of or relating to words.
  • Concerned with the words, rather than the substance of a text.
  • Consisting of words only.
  • * Mayhew
  • We subjoin an engraving which will give the reader a far better notion of the structure than any verbal description could convey to the mind.
  • Expressly spoken rather than written.
  • a verbal''' contract; '''verbal testimony
  • (grammar) Derived from, or having the nature of a verb.
  • (grammar) Used to form a verb.
  • Capable of speech.
  • * 2005 , Avril V. Brereton, Bruce J. Tonge, Pre-schoolers with autism (page 55)
  • How do these language problems affect the behaviour of verbal children?
  • Word for word; literal; verbatim.
  • a verbal translation
  • (obsolete) Abounding with words; verbose.
  • (Shakespeare)

    Synonyms

    * (of or relating to words) wordish

    Antonyms

    * (consisting of words only) non-verbal, substantive * (expressly spoken or written) implied * (expressly stated) unsaid * (capable of speech) preverbal

    Derived terms

    * verbal complement * verbal diarrhoea * verbal noun * verbal regency * verbal warning

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (grammar) A verb form which does not function as a predicate, or a word derived from a verb. In English, infinitives, participles and gerunds are verbals.
  • Synonyms

    * non-finite verb

    Verb

  • (transitive, British, Australia) To induce into fabricating a confession.
  • * 1982 , John A. Andrews, Human Rights in Criminal Procedure: A Comparative Study , ISBN 9024725526, BRILL, page 128:
  • "The problem of 'verballing' is unlikely to disappear, whatever the legal status of the person detained."
  • * 2001 , Chris Cunneen, Conflict, Politics and Crime: Aboriginal Communities and the Police , ISBN 1864487194, Allen & Unwin, page 116:
  • "Condren had always claimed that he was assaulted and verballed by police over the murder he had supposedly confessed to committing."
  • * 2004 , Jeremy Gans & Andrew Palmer, Australian Principles of Evidence , ISBN 1876905123, Routledge Cavendish, page 504:
  • "Moreover, given the risk of verballing , it is by no means apparent that it is in the interests of justice that the prosecution have the benefit of admissions that are made on occasions when recordings are impracticable."
    English transitive verbs ----