Synonyms for abrupt
- adjective
Most common
brusque rude unceremonious blunt sharp precipitous sudden rough
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Brusque — curt in manner
brusque, rude, unceremonious, blunt, curt, discourteous, harsh, short, terse, bluff, impolite, brisk, uncivil, ungracious, gruff, surly, churlish, crisp, coarse
2. Sharp
sharp, precipitous, steep, precipitate, hasty, bold, spontaneous, sheer, precipitant, subitaneous, impetuous, impulsive, rash
3. Sudden — without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious
sudden, unexpected, unanticipated, disconnected, unlooked-for
Definitions
- adj. 1
Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious.
The party came to an abrupt end when the parents of our host arrived.
- adj. 2
Curt in manner.
- adj. 3
Extremely steep or craggy as if broken up; precipitous.
- adj. 4
Having sudden transitions from one subject or state to another; unconnected; disjointed.
Related words
- Word family
- abruptly abruptness abruptedly
Example sentences
- curt Don't you think it's rude to give people such a curt reply like that?
- brusque I was a little brusque with you before.
- discourteous That would have been discourteous.
- steep The eastern shore of the lake is steep and pebbly.
- precipitous Your actions may be overly precipitous.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| abrupt | steady | |
| curt | rising | |
| brusque | rising | |
| discourteous | steady | |
| unceremonious | rising | |
| steep | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- bold1, rude1, rash1, curt1
- 5 letters
- short1, sharp1, rough1, harsh1, steep1, sheer1, blunt1, crisp1, bluff1, hasty2, brisk1, surly2, gruff1, terse1
- 6 letters
- broken2, sudden2, rugged2, coarse1
- 7 letters
- brusque1, uncivil3
- 8 letters
- impolite3, churlish2
- 9 letters
- impulsive3, impetuous3
- 10 letters
- unexpected4, ungracious
- 11 letters
- spontaneous4, precipitate4, precipitous4, precipitant, subitaneous
- 12 letters
- disconnected4, discourteous
- 13 letters
- unanticipated6, unceremonious6
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (hasty2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- abrupt
- Italiano
- ripido
- Español
- escarpado
- Deutsch
- abschüssig
- Català
- escarpat