Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective compendious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of compendious are concise, laconic, pithy, succinct, summary, and terse. While all these words mean "very brief in statement or expression," compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment.

a compendious dictionary

In what contexts can concise take the place of compendious?

The words concise and compendious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative.

a concise description

When might laconic be a better fit than compendious?

The synonyms laconic and compendious are sometimes interchangeable, but laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

How does the word pithy relate to other synonyms for compendious?

Pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance.

a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

When is succinct a more appropriate choice than compendious?

In some situations, the words succinct and compendious are roughly equivalent. However, succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

When can summary be used instead of compendious?

The meanings of summary and compendious largely overlap; however, summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation.

a summary listing of the year's main events

When is it sensible to use terse instead of compendious?

Although the words terse and compendious have much in common, terse implies pointed conciseness.

a terse reply

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of compendious In The Great Miscalculation: The Race to Save New York City’s Citicorp Tower (New York University Press, $27.95), Michael M. Greenburg goes into compendious detail about the debacle. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025 The curious thing about this compendious, scrupulously researched biography, so rich in basketball and cultural lore, is that the best parts are not about basketball at all. Thomas Beller, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2023 Although employment has begun to recover, the need to create jobs has prompted several Indian states to suspend many of the country’s compendious labour regulations. The Economist, 27 June 2020 Another documents the founding in 1974 — by Joan Nestle, Deborah Edel, Sahli Cavallaro, Pamela Olin and Julia Stanley — of a compendious and still-growing register of lesbian culture called the Herstory Archives. Julianne McShane, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2019 Nonetheless, astronomers and astrophysicists came together to write a single compendious paper about the event. Adrian Cho, Science | AAAS, 16 Oct. 2017 Each event centered on performances of a supreme, compendious Bach masterpiece. James R. Oestreich, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compendious
Adjective
  • The 2015 deal, signed by Iran, the U.S. and other world powers, created a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement that limited Tehran’s enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
    Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2025
  • The 2015 deal, signed by Iran, U.S., and other world powers, created a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement that limited Tehran’s enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
    Aamer Madhani, Christian Science Monitor, 22 June 2025
Adjective
  • This epic yet concise 90-minute local history melange is told through short vignettes.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2025
  • Complex questions produced up to six times more carbon dioxide emissions than questions with concise answers.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • When developing a data infrastructure for healthcare, your first task is thorough planning and design.
    Salman Shahid, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The formula provides a gorgeous lather and gives my hair and scalp a thorough cleanse without leaving my strands feeling stripped.
    Kayla Greaves, Essence, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • In a brief exchange with reporters on Friday, Carney addressed questions about the breakdown in talks.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 29 June 2025
  • Some suggestions seem easy and inexpensive to implement — encouraging law enforcement officers to issue a civil citation for non-violent misdemeanor offenses, an alternative to an arrest that requires a jail booking and often only a brief stay behind bars for the offender.
    Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • Free agency hasn’t formally started yet, but the Miami Heat’s roster is already almost full.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
  • For full ticketing details, visit frontiertouring.com/kelseaballerini.
    Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Human Rights Watch said M23’s efforts to consolidate control of Goma have involved possible war crimes, including the summary execution of civilians in February.
    Michela Wrong, NBC news, 6 June 2025
  • Unlike traditional employee income, business income does not always come with summary tax forms like the W2 at the end of the year.
    Vlad Rusz, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • No Ju-han—Netflix If the VIPs were Season 1’s sour note, then in Season 2, slow-moving side plots set among the guards and the search party looking for Squid Game Island provided less jarring but more extensive distractions from the main event.
    Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025
  • To drink, tableside martini service, an extensive wine list, and full bar, of course.
    Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • For a glimpse into the town's past, climb the 199 steps to the top of the 1859 Cape May Lighthouse (the panoramic views are the icing on the cake) or wander the grounds of Congress Hall.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2025
  • The new location has a panoramic harbor view that includes Baby Beach, the West Basin with its docks, slips and boaters, the jetty and all the comings and goings at the harbor’s entrance.
    Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 28 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Compendious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compendious. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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