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
On the other hand, the 73-year-old Belichick’s gruff persona, with his monosyllabic utterances at news conferences, has become the stuff of legend.
—
Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 7 July 2025
The Chinese language, unlike alphabetic languages, uses more brain regions due to its monosyllabic, tonal, and logographic nature, which makes understanding brain signals more complex.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2025
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
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
See All Example Sentences for monosyllabic
Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 7 July 2025
The Chinese language, unlike alphabetic languages, uses more brain regions due to its monosyllabic, tonal, and logographic nature, which makes understanding brain signals more complex.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2025
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
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
See All Example Sentences for monosyllabic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monosyllabic
Adjective
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This new rule affords clear and concise considerations for both independent professionals and small businesses to build independence and economic growth, pursue risks, yet avoid regulatory and legal reprisal while doing so.—
Jennifer Oliver Oconnell,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
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Fuentes offers a more concise gloss.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Large hail and a brief tornado can’t be ruled out, mainly in eastern Kansas into far northwest Missouri, the weather service said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
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The brief scene required five days of shooting.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The judge considered hundreds of pages of evidence and testimony from San Diego officials, homeowners and their lawyers and determined that the city had not met the burden for what is called summary adjudication in any of the five causes of actions.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
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Such rights obviously do not include summary execution at sea.—
Mary Ellen O'Connell,
The Conversation,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Monosyllabic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monosyllabic. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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