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
Relevance
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
Here’s everything to know about the R&B group’s abrupt disbandment and where its members are now.
—
Emily Blackwood, People.com, 29 July 2025
The vessel then made an abrupt starboard turn and struck the port bow of the Coast Guard small-boat at coordinates 45°00.792'N, 073°10.608'W, approximately 65 yards south of the U.S./Canadian border.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
San Diego County supervisors won’t say what led to this week’s abrupt retirement of County Counsel Claudia Silva, just after a new Democratic majority took control of the board.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2025
Goodspeed Musicals has made an abrupt and unexpected change in its 2025 Goodspeed Opera House season, replacing the new stage version of a Christmas musical with a different Christmas show.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for abrupt
Emily Blackwood, People.com, 29 July 2025
The vessel then made an abrupt starboard turn and struck the port bow of the Coast Guard small-boat at coordinates 45°00.792'N, 073°10.608'W, approximately 65 yards south of the U.S./Canadian border.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
San Diego County supervisors won’t say what led to this week’s abrupt retirement of County Counsel Claudia Silva, just after a new Democratic majority took control of the board.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2025
Goodspeed Musicals has made an abrupt and unexpected change in its 2025 Goodspeed Opera House season, replacing the new stage version of a Christmas musical with a different Christmas show.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for abrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrupt
Adjective
-
The cause of death was traumatic blunt force injuries.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
21 July 2025
-
The magnetized tank struck the child, who died of blunt force trauma injuries.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
However, Trump has imposed steep new taxes on imports of Canadian steel, aluminum and autos, and Carney's team has focused on trying to get those eliminated or reduced.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 July 2025
-
But Trump has resisted backing a bipartisan U.S. bill to impose steep sanctions on Russia, instead giving Russia 50 days to accept a peace deal or face sanctions on its energy exports.—
Michelle L. Price,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
While some seemed excited about Buck's sudden appearance, some speculated about the possibility of Stephanopoulos leaving the show.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
-
Then Kings of Leon and Black Keys come out of Nashville and then all of a sudden the diversity of the music that was coming out of there started to really grow over a short period of time.—
Melonee Hurt,
The Tennessean,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
For beginners, Bravo recommends starting with short sessions and using a handle for support while your body adapts.—
Jordan Galloway,
SELF,
15 July 2025
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Families can also listen to short episodes of the Cow Tales Podcast and find more secret missions.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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His unexpected cameo also served as a promotion for his Big3 basketball league, which is slated to play games at Heritage Bank Center on July 26, the last night of the Cincinnati Music Festival.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
27 July 2025
-
Houser, meanwhile, continued his unexpected run, holding the Cubs scoreless for six innings before giving up a three-run homer to Reese McGuire in garbage time.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
Bill Pogue’s family and friends knew him as a thoughtful, deeply sensitive man, despite his reputation as a gruff, stern, wildlife officer.—
Jim Zumbo,
Outdoor Life,
17 July 2025
-
Who leaves us echoes — gruff, brilliant, unrepeatable — half legend, half lullaby.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The judge was curt but courteous; a Spanish-language interpreter was available on a large video screen to his right.—
Jordan Salama,
New Yorker,
25 July 2025
-
If that bluntness sound a little prosaic at first, there’s a curt poetry to it that comes into focus listening through 15 tracks that consist almost entirely of sisters Danielle, Alana and Este Haim handing in their respective resignations to long- or short-term partners, effectively immediately.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
The same substantive deficits afflict Louise-Parker, too, whose bright eyes and brusque wit are wasted in a role that’s villainous potential exists only in exposition.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 July 2025
-
Going from Pitch Stop to Drama Room meant a brusque shift, with all four projects grappling with questions either directly tied to or adjacent to modern masculinity.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrupt. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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