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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in short
not lasting for a considerable time
fortunately, the meeting was brief
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in flash
lasting only for a short time
a brief flash of light
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in summary
a short statement of the main points
a one-page brief of the intelligence report
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brief
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Monday saw a brief reprieve for equities following Friday’s selloff, with Wall Street’s major averages clawing back some of the previous session’s losses, while European stocks also notched gains.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Touré, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
In a 2022 research brief from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, researchers found gaps in how Black and white veterans experienced the benefits, including a racial wealth gap into the next generation.
—Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
An Israeli official briefed on the matter told NBC News that all living hostages would be released at one time.
—Jessica Sherwood, NBC news, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brief
Adjective
And certain vaccines can trigger brief, low-grade fevers as the immune system builds protection.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Monday saw a brief reprieve for equities following Friday’s selloff, with Wall Street’s major averages clawing back some of the previous session’s losses, while European stocks also notched gains.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
No drawers, no boxers, no briefs, no belt.
—Touré, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
In a 2022 research brief from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, researchers found gaps in how Black and white veterans experienced the benefits, including a racial wealth gap into the next generation.
—Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed Senate Republicans on the administration’s legal basis for the strikes before the vote.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
An Israeli official briefed on the matter told NBC News that all living hostages would be released at one time.
—Jessica Sherwood, NBC news, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brief
Adjective
-
The initiative focuses on publishing concise, high-quality species descriptions to shorten the gap between discovery and formal recognition drastically.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The other cuts in as needed — concise, disarming, right on cue.—
Alma Rota,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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With one out in the second, Caleb Durbin sent a drive into left field that Kiké Hernandez turned into a triple when his diving attempt came up short.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Facing fourth-and-short at midfield, the Vikings tried another quick toss to O’Brien.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And many supermarkets offer bags of flash-frozen cranberries year-round.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
-
What To Know A map shared by the NWS on Facebook showed a broad corridor of flash-flood risk spanning the Western states and Southern Plains.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
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The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Featuring high-profile guests like Coco Jones, the annual DKMS gala is a fundraising event hosted by the international nonprofit organization with a mission to fight blood cancer.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
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Across every event, The Wondaland Arts Society continues its mission to create spaces where art, identity, and joy converge.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Guadagnino had noted to Piersanti that Alma was an upper-class woman, which informed the wardrobe pricing, while Maggie, played by Edebiri, was trying to emulate Alma but on a younger woman’s budget.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
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Few figures have informed the sensibility of NPR more than Stamberg.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To summarize, the protagonist, lost in hopeless days, eventually stumbles upon a deserted dance hall.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
-
In the moment that summarizes one of Good News’ thematic throughlines, Nobody is speaking to Seo Go-myung (Weak Hero Class 1’s Hong Kyung), an ambitious Air Force lieutenant who is as close to an audience surrogate as Good News gets.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Bad Bunny has commented little, save for an SNL monologue poking fun at the situation.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
-
After Texas produced little in the run game at Florida, Wisner proved elusive, dodging and breaking tackles to produce chunk plays and keep Texas moving down the field.—
Sam Khan Jr,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brief. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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