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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brief
Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 11 May 2025
It's been a rough go for the Pirates since their brief postseason stretch a decade ago.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2025
Renee Cherry, SELF, 8 May 2025
As a consistent advocate of harm reduction and the author of an amicus brief filed in support of the respondents, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance is disappointed in this outcome.
—Ross Marchand, Boston Herald, 8 May 2025
Jovan Buha, New York Times, 2 May 2025
All workers should be briefed on how to best handle both traditional and online fax services, to avoid creating situations where data could be left exposed and vulnerable to being hacked or compromised.
—Tamsin Gable, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for brief
Adjective
In the two prior incidents, air traffic controllers lost radio and radar connections, leaving them unable to track planes or speak with pilots for brief but terrifying moments.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 11 May 2025
It's been a rough go for the Pirates since their brief postseason stretch a decade ago.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2025
Noun
The briefs on these shorts fit like actual underwear and don’t dig into my thighs.
—Renee Cherry, SELF, 8 May 2025
As a consistent advocate of harm reduction and the author of an amicus brief filed in support of the respondents, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance is disappointed in this outcome.
—Ross Marchand, Boston Herald, 8 May 2025
Verb
As The Athletic reported last season, one source briefed on James’ thinking said he was expected to play up to two more NBA seasons, which would take him through the 2025-26 season.
—Jovan Buha, New York Times, 2 May 2025
All workers should be briefed on how to best handle both traditional and online fax services, to avoid creating situations where data could be left exposed and vulnerable to being hacked or compromised.
—Tamsin Gable, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for brief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brief
Adjective
-
This means clear, concise disclosures on landing pages, in privacy policies and during any direct interaction.—
William DeCourcy,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
-
Conversely, Pope Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost, introduced himself to the public speaking Italian and Spanish, and greeted onlookers both in person and virtually with a concise speech about building bridges and fostering hope for a synodal church.—
Gabriele Regalbuto,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
The latter is the name of a short projection show at Disney California Adventure (DCA).—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
-
The Preakness at 1 3/16 miles is slightly shorter than the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby, but there’s optimism about close-to-normal conditions after nearly a week’s worth of rain fell on Baltimore and mucked up the dirt track at Pimlico Race Course.—
Stephen Whyno,
Baltimore Sun,
16 May 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
-
The film also stars Dave Bautista as Steve, the show’s producer who informs Shelly that her longtime gig is coming to an end.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
-
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office was not informed of the raid ahead of time.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
What now in Toronto? To summarize: In the first round, the Leafs jumped out to a 3-0 lead against an overwhelmed wild-card opponent and flirted with blowing the series before closing it out in six.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
-
To summarize, here are some steps to get started: Self-reflection: Assess your interests, values, and long-term goals.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
19 May 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
-
Fortunately, the fan who was hit showed little to none sign that anything unusual had happened.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 May 2025
-
And while most Americans have heard about the stock market fluctuations, 20 percent have heard little about them or nothing at all.—
Ruth Igielnik,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
Fears of a slide back towards authoritarian rule were hardened by a temporary constitution focusing power in his hands.—
Tom Perry,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
-
Transient ischemic stroke is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that can mimic a stroke, causing symptoms like numbness, weakness, or confusion that can last anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brief. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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