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 Nonetheless, astronomers and astrophysicists came together to write a single compendious paper about the event. Adrian Cho, Science | AAAS, 16 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compendious
Adjective
  • The eastern campus will total 300,000 square feet and focus on comprehensive primary care, primary and specialty pediatric care, and adult and pediatric urgent care.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Consider the personal income per resident yardstick, the bureau’s comprehensive measurement of all types of incomes, including those from jobs, businesses, investments, and government assistance.
    Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Streamlining agendas and providing concise pre-read materials can allow directors to prepare thoughtfully and focus on strategic issues.
    Lara Abrash, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The running back's response was blunt, even if not necessarily concise.
    Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ability to manage growth in a manner that reflects the reasons people find Matthews attractive, create a budget that is thorough and efficient, ability to work with citizens and town leaders to maintain Matthews’ sense of self.
    Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The dealmaking process has been thorough and lengthy, with the 27-member trade bloc and the largest nation in South Asia having met 14 times for negotiations, the last being in Brussels last week.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • At the very end, his mother made a brief appearance to wrap up the routine.
    Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The two most recently fought a brief conflict earlier this year.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Our hearts are extra full this week 🥰 #DedicationNight featuring our stars’ special guests is TONIGHT - 8/7c on ABC and Disney+.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Keep reading for a full recap from week 5 of Dancing with the Stars.
    Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Such rights obviously do not include summary execution at sea.
    Mary Ellen O'Connell, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Not surprisingly, given the risk of summary execution, many had initial doubts.
    Yossi Melman, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The weapons of the Hwasong-11 series are short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) based on Russia’s Iskander missiles, which have seen extensive use in Moscow’s devastating strikes across Ukraine.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Laura Modiano, who heads up OpenAI's startups division in EMEA, drew a comparison between American and European founders based on her extensive work with founders across both regions and rolling out AI features.
    Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For its relatively small footprint, Hôtel Place d'Armes punches far above its weight from a culinary POV, with a fabulous on-site brasserie, a trendy sushi bar, and a panoramic roof terrace (open seasonally) that’s widely considered one of the city’s best spots for outdoor drinks with a view.
    Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The property is located in the city’s Maslak neighborhood and boasts panoramic views of the Bosphorus.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Compendious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compendious. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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