succinctly

Meaning

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   In a way that uses only a few well-chosen words yet still gets across everything important.

   Grammar: Usually follows a verb of speaking or writing: she put it succinctly.

   Patterns

   • express something succinctly
   • put it succinctly
   • summarize something succinctly

   The report succinctly explains why sales fell last spring.

   Could you state your question succinctly so everyone can follow?

   He summed up the whole argument succinctly in two sentences.

Common combinations

put it succinctly

To put it succinctly, we need more staff.

state succinctly

The author states her main point succinctly in the first paragraph.

summarize succinctly

Try to summarize the chapter succinctly in a few lines.

explain succinctly

The guide explained the rules succinctly, and nobody needed to ask twice.

answer succinctly

Answer succinctly, because the interview is nearly over.

Synonyms and how they differ

concisely

Concisely is almost identical, though succinctly often stresses the neat, pointed quality of what is said.

briefly

Briefly only says the speech is short, while succinctly also promises that nothing important is lost.

curtly

Curtly means short in a rude or unfriendly way, so it carries a negative tone that succinctly lacks.

tersely

Tersely suggests brevity that can feel abrupt or cold, whereas succinctly is neutral or admiring.

Opposites

Word family

succinct adjective

expressed in few words but clearly

succinctness noun

the quality of being brief and clear

Commonly confused: succinctly or succulently?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “succinctly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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