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
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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
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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
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1
as in shortness
the condition of being short
the briefness of the instructions rendered them less than helpful
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2
as in concision
the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning
in this case the briefness of the essay is not a drawback because it says all that needs to be said and does so with eloquence
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brief
David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2025
Then the teenager gave a brief interview with the press, which was soon picked up by papers all over the world.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
Kenneth Obel, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
The judge directed the parties to file additional briefs in the coming days and scheduled a hearing on the motion seeking Mahdawi’s release for next week, on April 30.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
David Ubben, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Tellingly, however, Harris’ offer to visit Wisconsin was rejected as a potential distraction during early voting, according to people briefed on the discussions.
—New York Times, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brief
Adjective
Schatz himself was unwilling to discuss his internal whip count in a brief hallway interview.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2025
Then the teenager gave a brief interview with the press, which was soon picked up by papers all over the world.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
More than 500 firms have joined a legal brief challenging the president’s actions.
—Kenneth Obel, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
The judge directed the parties to file additional briefs in the coming days and scheduled a hearing on the motion seeking Mahdawi’s release for next week, on April 30.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
Tennessee officials were frustrated with the ongoing negotiations, said a source briefed on those conversations, but were hopeful for an amicable resolution.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Tellingly, however, Harris’ offer to visit Wisconsin was rejected as a potential distraction during early voting, according to people briefed on the discussions.
—New York Times, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brief
Adjective
-
Refine your key points to be clear and concise—no rambling monologues.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
As the celebration on the floor dispersed to make way for the second national semifinal, Clayton could be seen greeting every teammate and staffer who offered a handshakes or a hug with a concise message.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
After a short ceremony, the church will open to the public from: Wednesday: 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday: 7 a.m. to midnight Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Since then, stars like Olivia Rodrigo, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, and more have modernized the look and kept the trend alive with a shorter, choppier version.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — this guy is the real deal.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
The Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2025
-
The German figures come a day before the scheduled release of flash inflation data for the euro area, which will be closely watched by investors for guidance on the odds of another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank.—
Sophie Kiderlin,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2024
Verb
-
Its measurements of ocean salinity and temperatures inform Navy operations, according to the Council on Strategic Risks, a nonpartisan security policy institute in Washington.—
Abrahm Lustgarten,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Becky, having seen Darlene and Chad together at the bar, informs Ben about Chad.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The five Missouri students aren’t publicly named in the lawsuit, but their backgrounds are summarized.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Motorola’s new flip phones include AI tools that can do things like analyze what’s on a phone’s screen to provide suggestions and summarize notifications.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Ukraine is investigating more than 150,000 possible war crimes committed by Russia, including the summary execution of prisoners and targeted aerial strikes against civilians.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
-
He is accused of acting as the de facto leader of the Davao Death Squad, a group that was responsible for summary executions and the murder or disappearance of more than 1,000 people in and around the city.—
Lisandro Claudio,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Obstetricians say, at the end of the day, AFE is really just a product of bad luck, and there's little that can be done to prevent it.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
In it is an über-posh upholstered bed—a slightly ironic addition for a professional who seems to leave little time for rest.—
Mel Studach,
Architectural Digest,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine starting Saturday, citing humanitarian reasons.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Apr. 2025
-
What will happen to new vehicle prices this summer, when temporary pricing pauses announced by automakers disappear?—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brief. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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