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abruptly

adverb

abrupt·​ly ə-ˈbrəp(t)-lē How to pronounce abruptly (audio)
Synonyms of abruptlynext
: in an abrupt manner : in a sudden and unexpected way
He left abruptly.
The car swerved abruptly onto the exit ramp.
Her career as a psychologist ended abruptly several years ago when a hacker broke into some of her private client files and made them public …Michael Logan
The small, rocky Anacapa Island [California] has steep cliffs which rise abruptly from the ocean on almost every side …David J. Rutherford

Examples of abruptly in a Sentence

the car in front stopped abruptly, and we almost hit it
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The growing levels of stress and distrust in the workforce are starting to show up in the number of people who plan to vote with their feet and leave their jobs abruptly. Bruce Crumley, Boston Herald, 7 Dec. 2025 Then, in September, ABC abruptly suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live after FCC Chair Brendan Carr pressured affiliate groups to preempt the show over Jimmy Kimmel's comments about Republicans' response to Charlie Kirk's assassination. Ew Staff December 5, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Dec. 2025 The commission’s Executive Director Shawn Ayala declined to comment on why the commission’s meeting was abruptly adjourned. Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 5 Dec. 2025 That restaurant abruptly closed in November after just four years in business, CharlotteFive previously reported. Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 5 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abruptly

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abruptly was in 1565

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abruptly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abruptly. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on abruptly

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