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
Over the years, Braunwald continued his work, his brusque manner occasionally rubbing his subordinates and colleagues the wrong way.
—
Lawrence K. Altman, STAT, 7 May 2026
European allies already had plenty of experience of Zelensky’s brusque manner.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Known for his brusque demeanor, Brush frequently courted controversy.
—Libby Cierzniak, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
That puts her at odds with Ray, whose investment in her son hinges on a brusque, performative disregard for Colin’s happiness.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brusque
Lawrence K. Altman, STAT, 7 May 2026
European allies already had plenty of experience of Zelensky’s brusque manner.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Known for his brusque demeanor, Brush frequently courted controversy.
—Libby Cierzniak, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
That puts her at odds with Ray, whose investment in her son hinges on a brusque, performative disregard for Colin’s happiness.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brusque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brusque
Adjective
-
The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School Board on Tuesday finalized a three-year contract for a new superintendent after the abrupt departure of former Superintendent Torie Gibson earlier this year.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
-
Authorities said that in the days leading up to her disappearance, Moore exhibited behavior that was out of character, including a sudden absence and an abrupt change in social media presence, according to ABC News.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Later that day, some Republican senators who have been hesitant to challenge the president directly on the Iran war were blunt in their criticism of his deal to end it.—
Mary Clare Jalonick,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
The medical examiner's office later determined the cause of death to be child abuse, including blunt force trauma, neglect, starvation and dehydration.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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But Rose bet that a less gruff voice, ultimately Mike Brown’s, was required to win it all.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
-
Platner, a gruff 41-year-old Marine Corps veteran, is trying to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins with a platform of economic populism, universal health care, labor protections, and anti-interventionism.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
After three minutes of routine and relatively curt responses, Redick was asked about the difficulty of closing a team out in a playoff series.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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Our separation would need to be curt and the novel did it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2026
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The tears weren't solely a result of coming up short at another major, but more so about the message his dad shared with him after Burns' Sunday surge up the leader board came up just short.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
It’s widely considered rude and annoying when people cluster by the train doors if there are more people on the platform attempting to get on.—
Claudia Fisher,
Travel + Leisure,
15 June 2026
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Many of these terms were meant as insults and were – and remain today – tremendously rude, but others reflect the bewilderment of trying to categorize people who don’t fit into standard categories easily.—
Ky Merkley,
The Conversation,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brusque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brusque. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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