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terse

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore T words

brief and to the point, sometimes to the point of curtness

Word origin: From Latin tersus, polished or wiped clean.

In a sentence

Terse in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing terse in a sentence.

His terse reply of 'Noted' made clear he had no interest in further discussion.

The committee's terse reply, just two sentences, left the petitioners uncertain whether they had been rebuffed or merely deferred.

Antonyms
verbosewordyrambling
Usage & nuance

Using “terse” well

Terse means brief and to the point, and it can shade into curtness that seems brusque or unfriendly. It is the opposite of verbose or wordy.

Common questions

Questions about “terse

Terse (adjective) means brief and to the point, sometimes to the point of curtness
Here is terse used in an example sentence: "His terse reply of 'Noted' made clear he had no interest in further discussion." Another example: "The committee's terse reply, just two sentences, left the petitioners uncertain whether they had been rebuffed or merely deferred."
Common synonyms for terse include concise, succinct, curt, laconic.
Antonyms of terse include verbose, wordy, rambling.
Clusters with concise, succinct, and laconic in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms verbose, wordy, and rambling mark the contrasting choice.
Yes. Terse is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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