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
• rundown
• summa
• 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

After a brief hiatus in July and August, foreign investors have resumed selling Indian equities in September, data from depository firm NSDL showed. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

Even in space, hundreds of miles above Earth, hurtling at thousands of miles per hour, astronauts working hard to make progress for humanity are able to find brief moments of transcendent beauty. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Noun

The missions also require adaptive thinking on the part of the directors and camera teams; Drake sends the field team daily briefs, but for most missions, there might be less than an hour of setup time before cameras roll. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026

The court allowed friend-of-the-court briefs to be filed over the adequacy of the consent decree. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026

Verb

Grossi was also briefed on China’s HTGR technology and its Linglong One, or ACP100, small modular reactor. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026

Chicago alderpersons will be briefed on this new deal starting Tuesday, the group said. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing brief

• hold a brief for
• in brief