brusque

brusque

adjective \ˈbrəsk\

Definition of BRUSQUE

1

: markedly short and abrupt

2

: blunt in manner or speech often to the point of ungracious harshness

— brusque·ly adverb

— brusque·ness noun

Variants of BRUSQUE

brusque also brusk \ˈbrəsk\

Examples of BRUSQUE

1. She asked for a cup of coffee and received a brusque reply: “We don't have any.”
2. The teacher was brusque and impatient.

Origin of BRUSQUE

French brusque, from Italian brusco, from Medieval Latin bruscus butcher's-broom (plant with bristly twigs)

First Known Use: 1651

Related to BRUSQUE

Synonyms

abrupt, bluff, blunt (also brusk), crusty, curt, downright, short, short-spoken, snippy, unceremonious

Antonyms

circuitous, mealymouthed

Related Words

gruff, rough, snappish; candid, direct, forthright, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, open, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, point-blank, straightforward, straight-out; artless, discourteous, disrespectful, impertinent, impolite, inconsiderate, insensitive, rude, tactless, undiplomatic; brief, closemouthed, laconic, reserved, reticent, terse, tight-lipped; earnest, honest, sincere; coarse, crass, crude, low, uncouth, vulgar

Near Antonyms

civil, considerate, courteous, diplomatic, gracious, polite, politic, smooth, suave, tactful; loquacious, talkative, voluble; long-winded, prolix, verbose; courtly, cultivated, gallant, genteel, polished, refined

See Synonym Discussion at bluff

Rhymes with BRUSQUE

busk, cusk, dusk, husk, musk, rusk, tusk