1
2

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 Observations, snippets of dialogue, and wry anecdotes make up this laconic novel, which focusses on the life of a young woman in New York. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025 In the laconic tones of a police report, Ibargüengoitia investigates the murders and their motives, the society and the profession - the oldest of all, but no less mysterious for that - which precipitated them. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 The ideas of Solar Power — laconic pacing, a quest for inner peace fed through late ’90s and early-aughts folk-pop and alternative-dance filters — are not absent, but the execution is spiffier. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 27 June 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 See All Example Sentences for laconic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laconic
Adjective
  • The initiative focuses on publishing concise, high-quality species descriptions to shorten the gap between discovery and formal recognition drastically.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The other cuts in as needed — concise, disarming, right on cue.
    Alma Rota, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That conversational access to the fine print not only saves keystrokes, but also reduces miscommunication, which is often the silent culprit behind change-order disputes and blown budgets.
    Jon Stojan, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
  • And the whole class is just silent.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Weigert, 56, left Tracker after season 1, and like Sunday’s episode, her absence was also explained within the show during a brief conversation in season 2.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The politically motivated preemption of the late-night program following host Jimmy Kimmel's brief remarks regarding the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk drove a massive wave of Disney+ subscription cancellations, a new report from the research firm Antenna shows, per The New York Times.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • And that’s a stupid, dumb, mindless question.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025
  • On TikTok, as The Washington Post has reported, some creators are making $5,000 a month using AI tools to write scripts and animate extremely dumb viral videos where old men talk about soiling themselves.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 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
  • James logged 19 minutes off the bench, which was the second-most for a Hornets’ reserved.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Using the fourth small reserved piece of dough, divide and make 3 balls the size of a key lime and 3 logs 1-inch across, then equally divide the rest of the dough into 3 balls about the size of a small plum, about 2½ inches around.
    Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The same restrained values of democracy have always marked the White House—a stately house, but not an imperial one.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Cooper—director of pictures like Crazy Heart, Hostiles, and most recently The Pale Blue Eye—makes sure the proceedings are always restrained and respectful.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • After a brief talk with his stepson Brian (Samuel Bottomley), a taciturn young man with bloodied knuckles, Jem takes off on his motorbike, into a remote but, compared to his dull suburban home, lush and verdant wilderness.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Todd's second-ever screen role foretold his future prominence, as the taciturn Sgt.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Laconic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laconic. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on laconic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!