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summary

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective summary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of summary are compendious, concise, laconic, pithy, succinct, and terse. While all these words mean "very brief in statement or expression," summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation.

a summary listing of the year's main events

When would compendious be a good substitute for summary?

The words compendious and summary are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 summary?

In some situations, the words concise and summary are roughly equivalent. However, concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative.

a concise description

When is it sensible to use laconic instead of summary?

While in some cases nearly identical to summary, laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

How does the word pithy relate to other synonyms for summary?

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 summary?

The meanings of succinct and summary largely overlap; however, succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

When can terse be used instead of summary?

The words terse and summary can be used in similar contexts, but 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 summary
Noun
Closing out her marathon summary of the case, Slavik made a plea to — or perhaps a demand — of the jury. Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2025 In his ruling granting summary judgement to Meta, Chhabria emphasized that his determination was specific to the circumstances of this case. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 June 2025
Adjective
Ukraine is investigating more than 150,000 possible war crimes committed by Russia, including the summary execution of prisoners and targeted aerial strikes against civilians. David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025 He is accused of acting as the de facto leader of the Davao Death Squad, a group that was responsible for summary executions and the murder or disappearance of more than 1,000 people in and around the city. Lisandro Claudio, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for summary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for summary
Noun
  • The president did not detail specific asks or outline how negotiations could proceed following the U.S. strikes.
    Jesse Byrnes, The Hill, 22 June 2025
  • The Athletic reported in March that Silver would pitch the NBA Board of Governors with the outline of a plan to launch a new pro basketball league in Europe within the next couple of years.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Complex questions produced up to six times more carbon dioxide emissions than questions with concise answers.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
  • This epic yet concise 90-minute local history melange is told through short vignettes.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • For a thorough debunking of misstatements made by this ACIP committee about thimerosal and other issues, see the Evidence Collective brief.
    Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • The Maryland Family Institute filed an amicus brief in this case on behalf of concerned families across our state and nation.
    Jeffrey S. Trimbath, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • The painting is a mini summa of two key tendencies running through Shahn’s work: self-quotation and cheekiness.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 24 June 2025
  • Rabelais points out that there are oddities in the world that cannot fit into any classification scheme, more things in our heaven and earth than are dreamt of in either the medieval pretensions of the summa or the ambitious early modern bibliographic machines.
    Brendan Fitzgerald, Longreads, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Now read more about the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Google’s latest Android updates in Forbes’ weekly smartphone news digest...
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
  • Now read the lates Pixel 10 and Android headlines in Forbes’ weekly smartphone digest...
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
Noun
  • In arithmetic progressions, there are many groups of numbers that have the same sum.
    Leila Sloman, Wired News, 29 June 2025
  • Their professions range from sales representatives to community coaches, and Auckland’s winnings of roughly €4 million ($4.5 million) from the Club World Cup—peanuts to elite clubs—is a fortune for an entity and federation not used to dealing in such sums.
    Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Automated demand forecasting can ensure timely inventory replenishment, avoiding shortages and waste.
    Siamak Baharloo, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • However, if firms need to absorb some of the cost to keep customers, Bowley said, reducing inventories, operations, or headcount are other potential options.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Job Application Volume Hurts the Brand Candidates notice the disconnect when their resumes go into a black hole.
    Susan LaMotte, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • One man, who came to the center hoping to print his resume at the job center, was turned away due to the office closure.
    Lily Carey, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Summary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/summary. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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