Synonyms of abrupt

abrupt

adjective

ə-ˈbrəpt 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blunt
• short
• gruff
• curt
• brusque
• unceremonious
• outspoken
• rude
• downright
• bluff
• snippy
• crusty
• crass
• brusk
• straightforward
• honest
• rough
• vulgar
• frank
• direct
• plain
• snappish
• candid
• short-spoken
• brief
• discourteous
• insensitive
• forthright
• inconsiderate
• disrespectful
• impolite
• tactless
• earnest
• undiplomatic
• open
• terse
• straight-out
• coarse
• artless
• laconic
• impertinent
• point-blank
• reserved
• plainspoken
• sincere
• reticent
• closemouthed
• uncouth
• free-spoken
• crude
• tight-lipped
• foursquare
• low

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

• steep
• precipitous
• mountainous
• vertical
• sheer
• sloped
• bold
• perpendicular
• craggy
• tilted
• hilly
• angled
• straight
• plumb
• tipped
• scarped
• slanted
• inclined
• heeled
• cocked
• hillocky
• canted
• listed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• gradual
• moderate
• gentle
• soft
• smooth
• flat
• level
• horizontal
• even
• flush
• unruffled
• plane
• unwrinkled

3

as in sudden

not expected

his abrupt reappearance seems to have caught everyone off guard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sudden
• unexpected
• unanticipated
• unforeseen
• unlooked-for
• unlikely
• improbable
• startling
• unplanned
• unintended
• surprising

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• anticipated
• expected
• foreseen
• predicted
• unsurprising
• prophesied

Synonym Chooser

How is the word abrupt different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of abrupt are precipitous, sheer, and steep. While all these words mean "having an incline approaching the perpendicular," abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

a beach with an abrupt drop-off

When could precipitous be used to replace abrupt?

The words precipitous and abrupt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

the river winds through a precipitous gorge

When is sheer a more appropriate choice than abrupt?

The words sheer and abrupt can be used in similar contexts, but sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers

When would steep be a good substitute for abrupt?

The synonyms steep and abrupt are sometimes interchangeable, but steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

a steep hill

a steep dive

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abrupt

First, two contestants' past use of racial slurs online caused their abrupt removals from the hit reality TV dating show, one just days into filming and another late in the season. —Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 13 July 2025

There have been plenty of scandals, including the abrupt elimination of two contestants following the resurfacing of past racist remarks. —Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025

The Wimbledon women's final came to an abrupt close on Saturday as Poland's Iga Świątek delivered a swift, crushing defeat against American player Amanda Anisimova. —Alana Wise, NPR, 12 July 2025

However, her time in Fiji came to an abrupt end as shown during Episode 30, which aired on Sunday, July 6. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

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