as in suddenly
with great suddenness
the car in front stopped abruptly, and we almost hit it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of abruptly
That ended abruptly with sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
—
Chris Livesay, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Pawula was working for the Big Tent Coalition, a political action committee founded by Tim Ozinga, R-Mokena, who was state representative in the 37th House District before abruptly resigning in April 2024.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
The Washington Post’s publisher and CEO Will Lewis has abruptly stepped down, just days after the newspaper laid off one-third of its staff, including at least 300 journalists in the newsroom.
—Andrew Kirell, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
In early June 2024, Sally Buzbee, the executive editor of the newspaper, abruptly resigned after Lewis announced that the Post would be restructuring the newsroom.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abruptly
Chris Livesay, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Pawula was working for the Big Tent Coalition, a political action committee founded by Tim Ozinga, R-Mokena, who was state representative in the 37th House District before abruptly resigning in April 2024.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
The Washington Post’s publisher and CEO Will Lewis has abruptly stepped down, just days after the newspaper laid off one-third of its staff, including at least 300 journalists in the newsroom.
—Andrew Kirell, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
In early June 2024, Sally Buzbee, the executive editor of the newspaper, abruptly resigned after Lewis announced that the Post would be restructuring the newsroom.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abruptly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abruptly
suddenly
Adverb
-
What had been absurdly labeled impossible suddenly was proven to be very doable.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Celsius, as the Washington Examiner previously reported, is the fuel that keeps the Capitol engine running, so staffers are understandably up in arms as the cost of a can has suddenly spiked by a whopping 10 cents to now cost $4.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abruptly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abruptly. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
