succinct
Americanadjective
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characterized by conciseness or verbal brevity.
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compressed into a small area, scope, or compass.
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Archaic.
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drawn up, as by a girdle.
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encircled, as by a girdle.
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adjective
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marked by brevity and clarity; concise
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compressed into a small area
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archaic
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encircled by or as if by a girdle
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drawn up tightly; closely fitting
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Synonym Usage
See concise.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of succinct
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin succinctus, past participle of succingere “to gird, gather up (one's clothes), prepare for action,” equivalent to suc- “under, beneath” ( see suc-) + cing(ere) “to gird, equip” + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
Something that is succinct is short and clear. If you're going to be interviewed on television about your new book and only have a five minute slot, you'll need to come up with a succinct version of your story. Succinct, meaning "short and to the point," is from the Latin succingere, "to tuck up." Often after you write a long essay, you realize you probably could have said the same thing in one or two succinct pages. If something is too succinct, we might call it terse. Another synonym is concise, which implies that unnecessary material has been removed. It's the opposite of wordy.
Vocabulary lists containing succinct
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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List 2
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ASVAB Word Knowledge
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chief Justice John Roberts’ majority opinion was succinct and direct.
From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026
We’re told each task force will be asked to produce a succinct report for Mr. Warsh that will be released to the public and become the basis for public debate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
“If Congress intended to limit American citizenship to the children of those domiciled in the United States, nothing in the succinct language of the Citizenship Clause conveyed that design,” Roberts wrote in the majority opinion.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026
When Rory McIlroy chatted to the great Jack Nicklaus for advice about the best way to defend his Masters title, he was given a succinct piece of advice.
From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026
Perhaps the most succinct way to put it is that Washington was leaving office not just because he was hearing whispers of mortality,but also because he was wounded.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
