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
With his occasionally brusque manner, his maniacal secrecy about team selection and his refusal to explain his tactical decisions, Luis Enrique put a few noses out of joint in the French media.
—
Tom Williams, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Near the end of our interview, his brusque exterior cracked.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 2 June 2025
But a few weeks before its initial six-month contract was set to run out, in mid-September 1994, things came to a brusque end.
—Christopher Clark, The Dial, 13 May 2025
An outgoing, flirty foil to Ellie’s brusque, steely demeanor, Dina’s playful banter with her pal is laced with the charge of friendly conversation that could tip into romantic intimacy on a dime.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brusque
Tom Williams, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Near the end of our interview, his brusque exterior cracked.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 2 June 2025
But a few weeks before its initial six-month contract was set to run out, in mid-September 1994, things came to a brusque end.
—Christopher Clark, The Dial, 13 May 2025
An outgoing, flirty foil to Ellie’s brusque, steely demeanor, Dina’s playful banter with her pal is laced with the charge of friendly conversation that could tip into romantic intimacy on a dime.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brusque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brusque
Adjective
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There was an abrupt downshift in her tone, her words a shove.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Aug. 2025
-
In May, President Donald Trump’s executive order pulling federal dollars from public networks such as PBS and PBS Kids led to the abrupt termination of Ready to Learn, a grant designed in part to financially provide for the development of children’s shows.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The judge was curt but courteous; a Spanish-language interpreter was available on a large video screen to his right.—
Jordan Salama,
New Yorker,
25 July 2025
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If that bluntness sound a little prosaic at first, there’s a curt poetry to it that comes into focus listening through 15 tracks that consist almost entirely of sisters Danielle, Alana and Este Haim handing in their respective resignations to long- or short-term partners, effectively immediately.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Some policymakers have advocated for blunt price caps as a quick solution to escalating drug prices.—
Rita Numerof,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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What the Internet Said Responses ranged from blunt warnings to bittersweet reflections.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Think scarf head coverings for women in Catholic churches, shoe removal for all to enter a mosque, yarmulkes required for men in synagogues, but also pay attention to the cultural norms away from houses of worship and behave accordingly to avoid being considered a rude American.—
Jenny Peters,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
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The Reddit community nearly unanimously branded the boyfriend as rude and tone-deaf.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Faced with this existential crisis, Bull gathers his best pals—Rocco, a gruff boxer (Idris Elba); Lucky, a dopey but loyal beagle (Bobby Moynihan); and Fetch, a wannabe influencer dachshund (Fred Armisen)—for one final night of canine mischief.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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The strength and conditioning coach barked out stretches in a gruff voice, starting off the first practice of fall football camp on a note of discipline.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Touchbacks: Touchbacks for kickoffs have been moved from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line, incentivizing the kicking team to keep the ball in play or have to deal with their opponents being a short trip away from reaching field goal range.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Choose from a slew of sizes and lengths, including short, regular, and tall.—
Ali Faccenda,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The snippy robot begins the film with her body destroyed but her ego as big as ever.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2025
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The Next Generations and had recurring roles as the snippy Emma Johnson on NBC’s 227 and as a judge on ABC’s The Practice.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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The Red Sox saw their seven-game win streak come to an unceremonious end on Wednesday, losing 7-3 to the Kansas City Royals in the club’s worst all-around effort in weeks.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
7 Aug. 2025
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An array of celebrities, politicians, and fellow late-night legends have thrown their support behind Colbert following the unceremonious decision.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brusque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brusque. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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