He spoke softly, his words barely audible.

Meaning: This sentence is describing someone speaking in a very quiet voice, making it difficult to hear what they are saying.

Choice of Words: Softly means in a quiet or gentle manner. Barely means only just or almost not. Audible means able to be heard. When you put them together, "He spoke softly, his words barely audible" means that he spoke in a quiet voice, and it was almost hard to hear what he was saying.

Alternative Expressions

He whispered, his voice a mere murmur.

Meaning: This means that the person was speaking so softly that it was hard to hear what they were saying, almost like they were whispering a secret.

Choice of Words: Whispered means to speak very softly, often in a secret way. Voice means the sound that comes out of your mouth when you speak. Mere means only or just. Murmur means a low, soft sound. When you put them together, "He whispered, his voice a mere murmur" means that he spoke so softly that his voice was barely above a whisper.

He muttered under his breath.

Meaning: This means that the person was speaking so softly that it was hard to hear what they were saying, almost like they were talking to themselves.

Choice of Words: Muttered means to speak in a low, indistinct voice, often to oneself. Under means below or beneath. Breath means the air that you breathe in and out. When you put them together, "He muttered under his breath" means that he spoke so softly that it was hard to hear what he was saying, almost like he was talking to himself.

Related Expressions