abrupt
Americanadjective
-
sudden or unexpected.
an abrupt departure.
- Antonyms:
- gradual
-
curt or brusque in speech, manner, etc..
an abrupt reply.
- Antonyms:
- courteous, patient, deliberate
-
terminating or changing suddenly.
an abrupt turn in a road.
- Antonyms:
- gradual
-
having many sudden changes from one subject to another; lacking in continuity or smoothness.
an abrupt writing style.
- Synonyms:
- uneven, broken, discontinuous
-
steep; precipitous.
an abrupt descent.
-
Botany. truncate.
adjective
-
sudden; unexpected
-
brusque or brief in speech, manner, etc; curt
-
(of a style of writing or speaking) making sharp transitions from one subject to another; disconnected
-
precipitous; steep
-
botany shaped as though a part has been cut off; truncate
-
geology (of strata) cropping out suddenly
Synonym Usage
See sudden.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of abrupt
First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin abruptus “broken off”(past participle of abrumpere ), equivalent to ab- ab- + -rup- “break” + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
An abrupt decision is one you make suddenly. An abrupt halt is one the Road Runner comes to when reaching an abrupt drop-off — you'd hear brakes squealing. Because being abrupt with someone is often a way of showing them that you are angry, you often apologize for the appearance of it. "I'm sorry I was abrupt. I was rushing to get to class." The root of abrupt is Latin rumpere "to break," which also gives us rupture "break" and interrupt "break into."
Vocabulary lists containing abrupt
Make a Break for It: Rupt
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A Need for Speed: Synonyms for "Fast"
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This Week in Words: July 31 - August 4, 2017
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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.
“Add to that additional rate hikes by the Fed and Bank of England until the year-end, and the bull market in equities could come to an abrupt end sooner than many expect,” Klement said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
Minutes before the news conference was brought to an abrupt halt, Hallgrimsson insisted he would not be drawn on either matter and would not "get involved in that as others will process that".
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Fewer new models are hitting the market than at any time in recent history—a hangover from the industry’s shift to EVs and its abrupt pullback.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
An abrupt slowdown could ignite shock waves throughout the U.S. economy, report Konrad Putzier and Justin Lahart.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
As he turned onto Main Street, he brought the sled to an abrupt halt.
From "Stone Fox" by John Reynolds Gardiner
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.
