as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
the sullen teenager would give only a monosyllabic response to even the friendliest question
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Recent Examples of monosyllabic
Eva, a monosyllabic Finn about my age who dressed in head-to-toe black, seemed uninterested in most of what was happening around her, including me.
—
Hazlitt, 3 Dec. 2024
Daboll, who typically mutters his way through monosyllabic answers after games, raved about the character and work ethic of his team Sunday.
—Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Verstappen was subsequently punished for using the F-word to describe Red Bull’s performances and reacted to his ban by delivering monosyllabic answers during FIA press conferences over the weekend.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
First appearing in 1950, in the original run of Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy is the relaxed, lovable, adventurous, and monosyllabic dog of Sally and Charlie Brown.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for monosyllabic
Hazlitt, 3 Dec. 2024
Daboll, who typically mutters his way through monosyllabic answers after games, raved about the character and work ethic of his team Sunday.
—Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Verstappen was subsequently punished for using the F-word to describe Red Bull’s performances and reacted to his ban by delivering monosyllabic answers during FIA press conferences over the weekend.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
First appearing in 1950, in the original run of Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy is the relaxed, lovable, adventurous, and monosyllabic dog of Sally and Charlie Brown.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for monosyllabic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monosyllabic
Adjective
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Notifying a third party, such as a different government agency, of a change-of-address is not considered clear and concise notification for tax purposes.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: In-N-Out’s popularity is built on high-quality ingredients, a concise menu, limited presence across the country and strong brand values — not the location of its headquarters or its CEO.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This rare shadow transit is visible during a few brief windows every 15 years, when Saturn's rings are aligned edge-on with Earth.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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Millions of years ago, the environment there was still dominated by a dry season, but it was interrupted by a brief wet season.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Not surprisingly, given the risk of summary execution, many had initial doubts.—
Yossi Melman,
ProPublica,
7 Aug. 2025
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The young man risked beatings that would end in summary execution for sneaking in extra food to prisoners who were supposed to be the empire’s work-and-starve-to-death slaves.—
Charles Pellegrino,
Rolling Stone,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Monosyllabic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monosyllabic. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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