1
as in blunt
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner
the policeman's abrupt manner discouraged me from trying to claim that I hadn't seen the red light
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in steep
having an incline approaching the perpendicular
the gentle, rolling hills gradually give way to high mountains with abrupt sides
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sudden
not expected
his abrupt reappearance seems to have caught everyone off guard
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abrupt
Weakening resolve Other countries have not followed the US out of the Paris Agreement, but the abrupt shifts in policy in Washington have affected the global mood.
—
Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Evers administration officials said because of the abrupt policy change, the rate at which benefits are overpaid or underpaid could be higher.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Ronnie blames Lilly, putting an abrupt end to their budding friendship.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
The explosion of sports betting into the American sports industry was abrupt and jarring, and nobody is quite used to it yet.
—David Hill, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abrupt
Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Evers administration officials said because of the abrupt policy change, the rate at which benefits are overpaid or underpaid could be higher.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Ronnie blames Lilly, putting an abrupt end to their budding friendship.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
The explosion of sports betting into the American sports industry was abrupt and jarring, and nobody is quite used to it yet.
—David Hill, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrupt
Adjective
-
The right’s defense is equally blunt.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Hosts often want to hint that the evening is wrapping up without being blunt.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Best Early Black Friday Target Kitchen Deals The sale brings steep discounts to top kitchen brands like Ninja, Keurig, and KitchenAid.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
His mental health went into a steep decline.—
Marissa R. Moss,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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Excluding disasters, sudden surges of this magnitude in requests for food or any other need are rare at 211s, and can signal both public worry and need, as happened in the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Matthew W. Kreuter,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Pierre was short, with a white beard and flamboyant wild hair.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
These bacteria ferment or break down prebiotics, releasing compounds called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
However, this approach defeats the primary purpose of insurance, which is to protect against catastrophic costs in the event of an unexpected medical crisis.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Her bond with Simone Biles has been well documented, but Chiles lights up when talking about other unexpected connections that also keep her grounded.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Others were more curt, saying that the speech is nothing but hot air.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Less than a day later, a curt follow-up email landed in many of their inboxes informing them that they weren’t being let go after all.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Patterson was hired in a guest role as the gruff diner owner with a heart of gold, Luke Danes.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Burr plays a gruff American record-store owner who convinces a ragtag gang of teenage misfits that their best, and possibly only, chance to lose their virginity before graduating high school is at a massive open-air mass for the visiting Pope.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Farrell, by contrast, plays a brusque, dim henchman named Alec, who’s there mostly to look tough and briefly talk about Star Wars.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Cumdumpster, by contrast, was brusque, peremptory, and stingy with his scores, as if I’d been put on earth to curate pornography for him.—
Daniel Kolitz,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrupt. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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