tersely

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   In a very short, abrupt way that uses as few words as possible, often sounding impatient or cold.

   Grammar: Usually follows a speech verb: he replied tersely.

   Patterns

   • reply tersely
   • say something tersely
   • tersely worded

   "Not now," she said tersely, without looking up from her screen.

   He tersely refused to answer any more questions.

   The manager tersely informed the staff that the meeting was over.

2. 2adverbnot comparable

   In a compact, to-the-point manner that wastes no words, as in writing or summaries.

   Grammar: Often modifies verbs like state or put: the rule is tersely stated.

   Patterns

   • tersely put
   • tersely written
   • tersely summarize something

   The report tersely summarizes ten years of research in two pages.

   The instructions were tersely written but easy to follow.

   The sign tersely warns visitors to keep out.

Common combinations

reply tersely

When I asked about the delay, he replied tersely.

say tersely

"We are done," the coach said tersely.

tersely worded

The tersely worded email left everyone uneasy.

tersely put

Tersely put, the plan failed.

answer tersely

She answered tersely, clearly hoping the call would end.

Synonyms and how they differ

curtly

Curtly stresses rudeness and a lack of politeness, whereas tersely focuses on shortness and can be neutral in writing.

briefly

Briefly only means for a short time or in few words and carries no hint of annoyance.

abruptly

Abruptly stresses suddenness, while tersely stresses how few words are used.

concisely

Concisely is positive and praises clear, economical writing, but tersely often suggests coldness.

Opposites

Word family

terse adjective

using few words, often in a cold way

terseness noun

the quality of being terse

Commonly confused: tersely or tensely?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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