The blueblood lady held the simple folks in disdain. In her eyes, they all looked boors with a brusque style, despite the fact that this time it is owing to them that she had roof above her head.
Source: tatoeba (5278081)
Brusque
/bɹʊsk/
Synonyms for "brusque" (186 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (38)
Adjective(16 words)
Strong matches (55)
close-tonguedclosemouthedcompactcompendiouscompressedconcisecondensedcontractedcrabbedcrispcrudecrustycurtcutdirectdisagreeablediscourteousdockeddownrightdumb
Show 28 more words
economical of wordsellipticellipticalepigrammaticexplicitfleetingforthrightfrankfrankheartedfreefree spokenfree-speakingfree-spokenfree-tonguedgenuinegnomicgruffharshheart-to-heartill-manneredimpatientimpoliteindisposed to talkingenuouslaconicmorosemummute
Verb(1 words)
Related words (93)
offhandopenopenheartedoutspokenoverbearingpithyplainplain spokenplain-spokenpointedprunedquietraucousreservedroughroundrudesententiousseveresharp
Show 48 more words
shortshort and sweetshort-temperedshortenedsilentsinceresnappishsnippetysnippysnugsoursparing of wordsspartanspeechlessstraightstraight outstraight-outstraightforwardsuccinctsummarysurlysynopsizedtaciturntactlesstemperamentaltersetighttight lippedtight-lippedto the pointtongue tiedtongue-tiedtransparenttruculenttruncateduncheckeduncivilunconstrainedunequivocalungraciousunguardedunloquaciousunmannerlyunreservedunrestraineduntalkativeword-boundwordless
Adjective(20 words)
offhandedperemptoryrough guessrough shoverough-edgedroughishrudestshirtyshortshort summarysnappishsnippiersnippiestsurlierterseterse proseterse wordingterserunceremoniousuntactful
Noun(4 words)
rough pushrude replyshort piecesudden stopping motion
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: curt, abbreviated, abridged, abrupt, abrupt.
- Sentence evidence is available for brusque, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "brusque".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "brusque"
Keep "brusque" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "brusque" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "brusque", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "brusque" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
1 entriesMore specific
4 entriesCollocations
5 entriesbrusque commentbrusque dismissalbrusque mannerbrusque replybrusque tone
Inflections
2 entriesmore brusquemost brusque
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
23 total sentences available.
I was a little brusque with you before.
Source: tatoeba (5376472)
Mr. VValler, being probably of opinion that Monſieur Palamede’s arguments vvere too bruſque to be advanc’d in a diſpute vvith a Lady, vvho number’d not fevver than tvventy Kings of her progenitors, vvrote this poem in a more tender and courtly ſtyle; […]
Source: wiktionary
[A]ll the answer Miss Jarron got was a brusque refusal, followed by Mr. Camperton's retreat from the piano.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 23 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "brusque"?
Closest matches include curt, abbreviated, abridged, abrupt, abrupt.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "brusque"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.