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clipped

clipped

6.5
Says things in short, quick sounds that seem abrupt
  • adjective
  • /klɪpt/
translation icon : cortante
  • In a tense conversation, his replies were short and clipped, revealing his irritation.

Flat, clipped words stripped of the awe that should have animated them.

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Examples

  • Our words become more clipped and abrupt.

  • Flat, clipped words stripped of the awe that should have animated them.

  • The instructor spoke in a clipped tone, making it clear that time was limited.

  • Her clipped speech made it obvious that she was not pleased with the situation.

Synonyms

short
vsclipped
  • Specialized
8 6.8

Made for a brief time, not held long

adds precision and abruptness beyond mere brief duration

Antonyms

rambling
  • Informal
6 6.1

Lengthy and confused speech or writing that loses its main point

1 5.0

Said slowly with sounds made longer

How Concise

curt
2 7.2
clipped
6.5
concise
37 4.2
wordy
8 3.7

Surface Forms

clipped positive

Morphology

clipped = clip (semi-transparent) = clip + ed

Derived from the past-participle sense 'cut short' applied metaphorically to speech; the connection is recognizable but somewhat figurative.

Etymology

Clipped here also comes from clip 'to cut', and a helpful way to remember it is to think of words being 'cut short'. So clipped speech sounds quick and sharp because the sounds are shortened like a small cut.