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
Verstappen, typically a bit brusque in interviews, gave the Aussie his flowers.
—
Nick Remsen, Vogue, 2 May 2025
In conversation, de Moraes often veers between jokes and brusque legal assertions.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Even before this week, the downside of the Trump White House’s brusque treatment of historic U.S. allies was obvious.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
Publicly, throughout his career, Tortorella has been both thoughtful and earnest in some moments and blunt and brusque in others.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brusque
Nick Remsen, Vogue, 2 May 2025
In conversation, de Moraes often veers between jokes and brusque legal assertions.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Even before this week, the downside of the Trump White House’s brusque treatment of historic U.S. allies was obvious.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
Publicly, throughout his career, Tortorella has been both thoughtful and earnest in some moments and blunt and brusque in others.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brusque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brusque
Adjective
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The outbreak of World War I in the summer of 1914, just a few months after her family’s arrival in Russia, had already brought Paley’s peaceful childhood to an abrupt end.—
Meilan Solly,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 June 2025
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The news Thursday about the abrupt scrubbing of the meet, scheduled for the last weekend in June at Drake Stadium, combines with USA Track and Field’s recent decision to take an event set at the same stadium for earlier in June — the L.A. Grand Prix — off the calendar.—
Eddie Pells,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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And Register Calibration: What reads as efficient in American English might come across as curt or even disrespectful in Japanese.—
Alessa Cross,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
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Grumpy and delightfully curt, Martin gives up his successful career as a surgeon after developing a fear of blood and takes over as a general practitioner in a small seaside town called Portwenn full of reliably quirky characters.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The post came just hours after the singer shared an image of what appeared to be his hand holding a burning blunt, as well as what appeared to be a back and forth with what appeared to be a now-former friend.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
16 June 2025
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Prosecutors say Scott’s daughter was found lifeless and had suffered multiple blunt force injuries.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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Carry-on rules exist for a reason and deliberately ignoring the rules is both rude and inconsiderate to everyone else who is.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
-
Matthews walked out of the home to talk to the suspect but returned to the house, saying Hoskins-Ellis said something rude to him.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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Eric Bauman, a gruff and tireless political operative who led two of California’s most powerful Democratic organizations before resigning amid misconduct allegations, died Monday.—
Laura J. Nelson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
-
Cross-examination from the defense’s gruff Xavier Donaldson will continue first thing Tuesday when the trial picks up again.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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But after Trump pulled the U.S. unilaterally out of the deal during his first term, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60% -- a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% -- and restricting access to its nuclear facilities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 June 2025
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Yes, Nuno will always be reminded about his short and unsuccessful stint at Tottenham Hotspur.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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Television reviewer Gary Deeb has been described as arrogant, snippy, opinionated, demanding and a host of other adjectives, some printable.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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The loss brought an unceremonious finish to a season in which the Knicks earned the East’s No. 3 seed and advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2000.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
1 June 2025
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No two players on SDSU’s roster have made greater strides since the unceremonious 27-point loss against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brusque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brusque. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
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