Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

shortness

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of shortness

the condition of being short
  • The shortness of the commencement speech was much appreciated by the impatient graduates.
Synonyms of shortness

brevity, briefness, conciseness
Words Related to shortness

abbreviation, abridgment (or abridgement), compression, condensation, contraction, curtailment

decreasing, diminishing, lessening, reducing, shortening, shrinking

abruptness, brusqueness, curtness

compendiousness, crispness, laconism, pithiness, succinctness, tautness, terseness

littleness, minuteness, smallness, tininess
Near Antonyms of shortness

extensiveness

elongating, elongation, extending, extension, prolongation, prolonging, protraction, stretching

expansion, growth, spread

diffuseness, garrulousness, long-windedness, prolixity, talkativeness, talkiness, verboseness, volubility, wordiness

bigness, bulkiness, greatness, heftiness, largeness
Antonyms of shortness

lengthiness

Learn More about shortness

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of shortness Nglish: Translation of shortness for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shortness for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up shortness? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

mollycoddle

play

to treat with excessive attention

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. symbiote 'an organism living in symbiosis'

  2. charlatan 'faker or fraud'

  3. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  4. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  5. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

image278155226
All the Hits

8 obscure words for bodily harm

alt-5adf93a49b0b2
The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

"In point" only lives in this phrase.

alt-5adf5d017e6bf
‘Sleight’ or ‘Slight’ of Hand?

Watch closely and be amazed.

alt-5ade0f1ca7a0c
'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

The distinction is clear (now).

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

Take the quiz
Add Diction
Add Diction

Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.

Play the game