tersely
Using few words in a way that seems blunt or abrupt
Examples
In a meeting
“She responded tersely to the question, making it clear she wanted to move on.”
Over coffee
“He just tersely said 'no thanks' and walked away.”
Why this word
briefly
tersely implies conciseness with abruptness or curtness, while briefly just means short in duration
concisely
tersely suggests brevity with possible rudeness or coldness, while concisely is neutral about expressing much in few words
shortly
tersely conveys both brevity and brusqueness of manner, while shortly is ambiguous and less precise
Usage tip
Use to describe communication that's brief but also carries a tone of curtness or impatience. Different from simply 'brief' because it implies social coldness.
Etymology
Latin: tersus (wiped clean, polished) — suggesting refined brevity
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Related words
concise
Giving a lot of information clearly in few words.
abbreviate
Shorten a word, phrase, or text
prolixity
The quality of using too many words; excessive wordiness
polemical
Involving strongly critical or controversial argument
ellipsis
The omission of words from speech or writing; the punctuation mark indicating this
pejorative
Expressing disapproval or conveying a negative connotation