Thesaurus
brief
Synonyms and Antonyms of brief
1 marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning a brief but crucial admonition to keep quiet Synonyms aphoristic, apothegmatic, concise, capsule, compact, compendious, crisp, curt, elliptical (or elliptic), epigrammatic, laconic, monosyllabic, pithy, sententious, succinct, summary, telegraphic, terse, thumbnailRelated Words abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), short, snippety, snippy; abbreviated, abridged, condensed, curtailed, shortened; meaty, substantial; meaningful, significant; well-turnedNear Antonyms pleonastic, redundant, repetitious, tautological, tautologous; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; embellished, embroidered, exaggerated, inflatedAntonyms circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy
2 not lasting for a considerable time fortunately, the meeting was brief Synonyms short, fast, littleRelated Words shortish; abbreviated, abridged, curtailed, cut-back, shortened, syncopated; compact, condensed; abrupt, sudden; ephemeral, fleeting, momentary, short-lived, transient, transitory; impermanent; compendious, concise, crisp, epigrammatic, laconic, pithy, succinct, summary, terse; short-range, short-termNear Antonyms endless, everlasting, interminable, persistent, unending; longish, overlong, prolonged, protracted; permanent; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; long-range, long-termAntonyms extended, far, great, lengthy, long, long-drawn-out (or long-drawn), long-lived
3 lasting only for a short time a brief flash of light Synonyms momentary, deciduous, ephemeral, evanescent, flash, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, impermanent, passing, short-lived, temporary, transient, transitoryRelated Words little, short, shortish; acting, interim, provisional, short-termNear Antonyms lifelong; continuing, durable, persistent; imperishable, indefectible, indestructibleAntonyms ceaseless, dateless, deathless, endless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, lasting, long-lived, permanent, perpetual, timeless, undying, unending
From the M-W Editors
brief
Synonyms and Antonyms of brief
1 a short statement of the main points a one-page brief of the intelligence report Synonyms abstract, breviary, summary, capsule, conspectus, digest, encapsulation, epitome, inventory, outline, précis, recap, recapitulation, résumé (or resume also resumé), roundup, rundown, run-through, sum, summa, summarization, summing-up, sum-up, synopsis, wrap-upRelated Words abbreviation, abridgment (or abridgement), compend, compendium, condensation, curtailment, shortening; simplification, streamlining; rehash, reprise; conclusion, epilogue (also epilog)Near Antonyms amplification, enlargement, expansion; addendum, supplement
2 a specific task with which a person or group is charged the soldiers' brief was to secure the village from enemy attacks Synonyms assignment, mission, business, charge, detail, job, operation, postRelated Words burden, chore, duty, need, obligation, office, requirement, responsibility; errand, labor, work; commitment, pledge, promise; appointment, commission, designation, nomination; compulsion, constraint, restraint
brief
Synonyms and Antonyms of brief
1 to give information to the lieutenant briefed his superior officers on the state of the enemy's fortifications Synonyms acquaint, advise, apprise, enlighten, catch up, clear, clue (in), familiarize, fill in, hip, inform, instruct, tell, verse, wise (up)Related Words advertise, alert, notify; announce (to), disclose (to); assure, certify, convince, reassure, warrant; educate, lecture, school, teach, tutor; disabuse, disenchant, disillusion, undeceiveNear Antonyms misinform, mislead
2 to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) his duties include briefing intelligence reports for the president Synonyms abstract, boil down, summarize, digest, encapsulate, epitomize, outline, recap, recapitulate, reprise, sum up, synopsize, wrap upRelated Words abridge, condense, curtail, cut back, shorten; downsize, shrink; concentrate, consolidate; decoct, essentialize; simplify, streamlineNear Antonyms elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract; amplify, elaborate (on or upon), enlarge (on or upon), expand, supplement
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