Curtness: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone speaks in a way that is brief to the point of seeming rude or unfriendly. It often implies a lack of patience or a dismissive attitude.

• His curtness in response to their questions made everyone uncomfortable.
• She answered with noticeable curtness, clearly not wanting to discuss the topic further.

Ideal for situations requiring clarity and succinctness in expression, especially in formal or academic contexts. It focuses on conveying the necessary meaning with few words.

• Her report was praised for its clarity and conciseness.
• Strive for conciseness in your essays to make a stronger impact.

Appropriate when you want to emphasize the quality of being brief and to the point, especially in writing or speech. It has a neutral or positive connotation.

• The brevity of his speech was appreciated by the audience.
• Brevity is often considered a mark of good writing.

Used when the brevity of speech or writing is so extreme that it might seem abrupt or unfriendly. Like curtness, it often carries a somewhat negative connotation.

• His terse reply left no room for further questions.
• The email was disappointingly terse and did not provide the needed details.

Use this when someone speaks in a short, impolite manner, often sounding rude, typically when they are annoyed or impatient.

• Her curtness during the meeting was unexpected and made everyone uncomfortable.
• He answered with curtness when asked about his day.

This describes a manner of speaking that is very direct and without trying to be polite or gentle, which can sometimes be considered rude or insensitive.

• Her bluntness can be off-putting, but at least she's honest.
• He appreciated his friend's bluntness about his mistakes.

This word is suitable when someone's speech or actions are sudden and unexpectedly quick, often causing surprise or confusion due to the lack of smooth transition.

• His abruptness left everyone in the room startled.
• The abruptness of her departure made it clear she was upset.

Use this word for describing a way of behaving or speaking that is very short and not particularly polite, often perceived as rude or dismissive.

• The waiter’s brusqueness bothered the customers.
• Her brusqueness in conversation makes it hard to connect with her.