Meaning & use
terse
Last updated
brief and to the point, sometimes to the point of seeming rude or curt.
See it in a sentence
Her terse reply suggested she didn't want to discuss the matter further.
The manual's terse instructions left several steps unclear.
A note on using this word
Terse can be neutral (efficient and concise) or slightly negative (abrupt and unfriendly), depending on context and tone.
Words with a similar meaning
curtbrief
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
verbosewordy
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “terse”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.