brusk

8.4

Speaking or behaving in a short, rude way

adjective
/brʌsk/

: brusco

The manager's brusk dismissal of the question surprised everyone.

Examples

He gave a brusk reply and walked away without another word.
Her brusk tone made it clear she was in no mood to chat.
His brusk reply surprised everyone at the meeting.
Why was she so brusk with her response?
He gave a brusk reply and walked away without another word.
Her brusk tone made it clear she was in no mood to chat.
The manager's brusk dismissal of the question surprised everyone.

Synonyms

short

vsbrusk

79 5.6

Abrupt and rude in speech or behavior

is curt or abrupt but can also feel colder rather than impatient

snippy

vsbrusk

18 6.7

Being short and rude in the way someone speaks

is similarly brief and rude but not necessarily informal or sassy

abrupt

vsbrusk

16 4.9

Speaking or acting in a rude, short way

focuses on briefness and rudeness rather than only suddenness

brusque

vsbrusk

7 7.7

Rude and very short when speaking or acting

is abrupt and uses few words but can be less blunt in tone

curt

vsbrusk

2 7.2

Using very few words in a way that seems rude

is abrupt in manner but refers more to general abruptness than word count

rough-spoken

vsbrusk

7.5

A person who speaks in a rude, harsh way

is abrupt in speech rather than specifically uncouth or coarse

Antonyms

polite

329 1.0

Showing good manners and respect to other people

tactful

11 4.0

Being careful and polite when speaking to avoid hurting people

How Abrupt

brusk

8.4

curt

2 7.2

terse

12 7.0

rude

594 1.0

Surface Forms

brusk positive

Etymology

The word brusk comes from French brusque and Italian brusco, which mean 'sharp' or 'sudden'. So a brusk reply is like a 'sharp' or quick cut—short and rude, which explains the word's modern meaning.