variants
also brusk
as in abrupt
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner
a brusque and unhelpful reply from the clerk in the hardware store
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brusque
The drama is often bracingly straightforward; characters declare their motives and enact their plans with brusque directness.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 July 2025
The same substantive deficits afflict Louise-Parker, too, whose bright eyes and brusque wit are wasted in a role that’s villainous potential exists only in exposition.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 July 2025
Mitchell was forthright, brusque, keen to make his mark.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 30 June 2025
Going from Pitch Stop to Drama Room meant a brusque shift, with all four projects grappling with questions either directly tied to or adjacent to modern masculinity.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for brusque
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 July 2025
The same substantive deficits afflict Louise-Parker, too, whose bright eyes and brusque wit are wasted in a role that’s villainous potential exists only in exposition.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 July 2025
Mitchell was forthright, brusque, keen to make his mark.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 30 June 2025
Going from Pitch Stop to Drama Room meant a brusque shift, with all four projects grappling with questions either directly tied to or adjacent to modern masculinity.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for brusque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brusque
Adjective
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The actor's appeal will no doubt help Chad Powers draw viewers in — but those that stick around may be frustrated by the comedy's abrupt finale.—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Sep. 2025
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The dismissal represented an abrupt end to a case with little recent precedent in Alameda County.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The answers Nora gets back from Azad’s father and brother are dismissive, curt, and even threatening.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
17 Sep. 2025
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These and a few other basic elements recur throughout Martinů’s œuvre: curt themes, darting rhythms, tangy harmonies, glittering textures.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And in Georgia, aggressive roll maintenance and steady Republican registration drives have helped the GOP blunt Democrats’ earlier gains and remain competitive in statewide contests.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Sep. 2025
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Moorjani plays Aruna, the Los Angeles Waves’ incredibly blunt star accountant who can finagle her way around any number of financial hurdles.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Crowd in New York has been bordered on rude; embarrassing!—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
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Protecting speech for all requires great tolerance for the vulgar, rude, offensive, angry, mean and, yes, even hateful.—
The Detroit News Editorial Board,
Twin Cities,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This pays off to some extent because Day-Lewis is such a mesmerizing presence, Ray’s gruff manner and terse communications hinting at dark mysteries to be revealed.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Sep. 2025
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Panday plays a convincingly gruff tortured artist alongside Padda’s struggling ingenue, and most of the screen time is devoted to their pairing instead of introducing tertiary excess.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Julia, Lisa, and Kiki all pull the short straw and go to Alexia and Frankie’s Beauty Bar for free manicures, half-stale prosecco, and warm sushi passed around by waitstaff that aren’t even hot.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
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Is the attraction the fact that it's forbidden and only exists in these short bursts?—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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With the unlikely help of the snippy Teng (Andy Yu), Morrow learns that Petrovich was sneaking out of his cryo-pod to conspire with Kavalier.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
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The organization sifts through reports of rudeness, terse emails, and snippy interactions, and finds reduced productivity and absenteeism costing companies’ bottom line.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Whether this is a suspension that sees Kimmel back on late-night eventually for ABC, or if this is the unceremonious end of Jimmy Kimmel Live‘s 22-year run still remains to be seen.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
18 Sep. 2025
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Lecornu, who was only appointed as France’s new prime minister on Tuesday after the unceremonious ousting of PM Francois Bayrou at the start of the week, faces an immediate challenge as a mass public protest is unfolding Wednesday.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brusque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brusque. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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