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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective laconic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of laconic are compendious, concise, pithy, succinct, summary, and terse. While all these words mean "very brief in statement or expression," laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

Where would compendious be a reasonable alternative to laconic?

Although the words compendious and laconic have much in common, compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment.

a compendious dictionary

When is concise a more appropriate choice than laconic?

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

a concise description

How is pithy related to other words for laconic?

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

a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

When might succinct be a better fit than laconic?

The synonyms succinct and laconic are sometimes interchangeable, but succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

When can summary be used instead of laconic?

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

a summary listing of the year's main events

In what contexts can terse take the place of laconic?

While in some cases nearly identical to laconic, 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 laconic Context Forty years ago in Azerbaijan in the south Caucuses region of western Asia, the laconic lethargy of Soviet bulk wine production was walloped by planned vineyard destruction. Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025 Chris Lombardi, founder of Matador Records, recalls first pitching Perry’s idea to Stephen Malkmus, the band’s notoriously laconic chief songwriter, singer, guitarist and nominal leader. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025 The story follows a laconic teen named Cécile, here played by Lily McInerny, who is summering with her widowed father, Raymond (Claes Bang), and his paramour-du-jour Elsa (Nailia Harzoune). Jessie Heyman, Vogue, 1 May 2025 His laconic, weary speech contrasts with the more expansive, and at times mannered, language of the voice on the tapes. Houman Barekat, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for laconic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laconic
Adjective
  • Harnessing Technology the Right Way Mr. Espino has embraced artificial intelligence (AI), but with a focused strategy using concise and precise data.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • McVey, 28, has reaped a personal bonus from the concise coaching: he’s been freed up to develop his game by not having to direct traffic as much.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • For some patients, other tools—like a coronary calcium scan, which can directly show whether there’s silent plaque in the arteries—may be more useful.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 9 Sep. 2025
  • One silent element to the transfer portal that is seldom discussed, but important to the athletes, is those pesky classes.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Young looked sharp throughout the summer, but his brief preseason misgivings carried over to the regular-season opener.
    DIAMOND VENCES, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The brief and unremarkable tenure of France’s prime minister has come crashing to an end.
    Cole Stangler, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Napier got a one-year honeymoon until a Week 1 loss at Utah in 2023, the year when the Gators committed a silly amount of dumb penalties (including the original instance of two guys wearing the same jersey).
    Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The reigning Super Bowl champs better hope that’s the dumbest thing that one of their players does this season.
    Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 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
  • Reservations include a reserved seat and access to the full menu.
    Nasha Smith, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Vigorously stir the noodles for a minute, adding some reserved cooking water, a tablespoon or two at a time, until the sauce is glossy and clings to the noodles.
    The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Climate scientists have long been vexed by the disconnect between the dire warnings blared by their models and the restrained policies enacted by world leaders.
    Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
  • There is nothing restrained about the family room, with brick walls that feature a bright splash of chartreuse (Benjamin Moore’s Wasabi, AF-430).
    Jeanne Lyons Davis, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The film follows a young drifter and a taciturn trucker who link up and forge a precarious bond on Mexico’s dangerous highways.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Young, unemployed family man Nick (MacKay) volunteers to take the boat back out, along with taciturn, new-in-town drifter Liam (Turner) and grizzled seadog Murgey (Francis Magee).
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Laconic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laconic. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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