Synonyms of brief

brief 1 of 3

adjective

ˈbrēf 

1

as in concise

marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning

a brief but crucial admonition to keep quiet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• concise
• summary
• short
• succinct
• pithy
• terse
• curt
• blunt
• epigrammatic
• telegraphic
• compendious
• laconic
• monosyllabic
• sententious
• aphoristic
• crisp
• thumbnail
• compact
• capsule
• condensed
• abrupt
• shortened
• abbreviated
• apothegmatic
• elliptical
• meaningful
• brusque
• curtailed
• abridged
• substantial
• snippy
• meaty
• significant
• snippety
• well-turned

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wordy
• circuitous
• prolix
• rambling
• diffuse
• verbose
• windy
• redundant
• repetitious
• enlarged
• long-winded
• tautological
• exaggerated
• circumlocutory
• expanded
• supplemented
• inflated
• tautologous
• pleonastic
• embroidered
• embellished

2

as in short

not lasting for a considerable time

fortunately, the meeting was brief

Synonyms & Similar Words

• short
• little
• sudden
• concise
• fast
• condensed
• shortened
• abbreviated
• summary
• curtailed
• abridged
• momentary
• succinct
• fleeting
• transient
• shortish
• pithy
• abrupt
• short-lived
• transitory
• ephemeral
• terse
• compact
• syncopated
• epigrammatic
• short-term
• compendious
• laconic
• crisp
• short-range
• cut-back
• impermanent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• long
• lengthy
• great
• extended
• far
• persistent
• endless
• prolonged
• interminable
• protracted
• unending
• everlasting
• permanent
• long-drawn-out
• longish
• long-lived
• overlong
• enlarged
• long-term
• long-range
• expanded
• supplemented

3

as in flash

lasting only for a short time

a brief flash of light

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flash
• temporary
• passing
• transient
• short
• fleeting
• momentary
• little
• transitory
• ephemeral
• evanescent
• short-lived
• deciduous
• fugacious
• fugitive
• impermanent
• short-term
• shortish
• interim
• acting
• provisional

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permanent
• lasting
• endless
• eternal
• enduring
• unending
• timeless
• perpetual
• everlasting
• immortal
• ceaseless
• deathless
• lifelong
• undying
• persistent
• durable
• continuing
• long-lived
• dateless
• indestructible
• imperishable
• indefectible

brief

2 of 3

noun

1

as in summary

a short statement of the main points

a one-page brief of the intelligence report

Synonyms & Similar Words

• summary
• outline
• précis
• synopsis
• recap
• summa
• rundown
• résumé
• summing-up
• sum-up
• summarization
• recapitulation
• roundup
• run-through
• digest
• conspectus
• inventory
• encapsulation
• abstract
• sum
• capsule
• breviary
• wrap-up
• compendium
• epitome
• shortening
• curtailment
• abridgment
• abbreviation
• condensation
• simplification
• epilogue
• reprise
• streamlining
• rehash
• compend
• conclusion

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expansion
• enlargement
• amplification
• supplement
• addendum

2

as in mission

a specific task with which a person or group is charged

the soldiers' brief was to secure the village from enemy attacks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mission
• job
• assignment
• post
• duty
• detail
• operation
• requirement
• responsibility
• business
• office
• obligation
• charge
• work
• promise
• need
• errand
• burden
• commitment
• labor
• commission
• nomination
• appointment
• designation
• pledge
• chore
• restraint
• compulsion
• constraint

brief

3 of 3

verb

1

as in to inform

to give information to

the lieutenant briefed his superior officers on the state of the enemy's fortifications

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inform
• tell
• advise
• instruct
• clear
• verse
• acquaint
• enlighten
• teach
• familiarize
• hip
• apprise
• clue (in)
• wise (up)
• fill in
• educate
• catch up
• alert
• let someone know
• lecture
• notify
• keep (someone) posted
• announce (to)
• assure
• disclose (to)
• advertise
• convince
• reassure
• warrant
• school
• certify
• tutor
• disabuse
• disillusion
• undeceive
• disenchant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mislead
• misinform

2

as in to summarize

to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report)

his duties include briefing intelligence reports for the president

Synonyms & Similar Words

• summarize
• outline
• recap
• abstract
• recapitulate
• digest
• encapsulate
• boil down
• sum up
• reprise
• synopsize
• consolidate
• epitomize
• wrap up
• shorten
• condense
• curtail
• cut back
• abridge
• simplify
• shrink
• downsize
• streamline
• concentrate
• essentialize
• decoct

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extend
• prolong
• lengthen
• elongate
• expand
• protract
• supplement
• elaborate (on or upon)
• enlarge (on or upon)
• amplify

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of brief

Adjective

There was brief confusion on the field when the ball caromed back into the outfield. —ABC News, 3 June 2026

Any storm that develops could produce gusty winds, frequent lightning, and brief heavy rainfall. —Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 3 June 2026

Noun

In 2020, King joined nearly 200 athletes in supporting a friend-of-the-court brief against an Idaho law that barred trans-identifying male athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. —Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026

That gap between the hype and the numbers is what a new policy brief from the Peterson Institute for International Economics is trying to explain. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 2 June 2026

Verb

The driver was at the racing simulator at the facility the same day, a source briefed on the situation previously said. —Alex Andrejev, New York Times, 27 May 2026

From there, brief your teams on new tools and processes. —Kevan Savage, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Phrases Containing brief

• hold a brief for
• in brief