abrupt

[uh-bruhpt]

See more synonyms for abrupt on Thesaurus.com

adjective

sudden or unexpected: an abrupt departure.
curt or brusque in speech, manner, etc.: an abrupt reply.
terminating or changing suddenly: an abrupt turn in a road.

having many sudden changes from one subject to another; lacking in continuity or smoothness: an abrupt writing style.
steep; precipitous: an abrupt descent.
Botany. truncate(def 4).

Origin of abrupt

1575–85; < Latin abruptus broken off (past participle of abrumpere), equivalent to ab- ab- + -rup- break + -tus past participle suffix

Related formsab·rupt·ly, adverbab·rupt·ness, nounun·ab·rupt·ly, adverb

Synonyms for abrupt

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1, 3. quick, sharp. See sudden. 2. short, hurried, hasty, blunt. 4. discontinuous, broken, uneven.

Antonyms for abrupt

1, 3. gradual. 2. deliberate; patient, courteous.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for abruptly

suddenly, unexpectedly

Examples from the Web for abruptly

Contemporary Examples of abruptly

NBC News boss Deborah Turness abruptly ousted the ‘Meet the Press’ host four months ago.
David Gregory's 'Meet the Press' Eviction Exposed in Washingtonian Takedown
Lloyd Grove
December 23, 2014
Because this food source could abruptly disappear at any time, cutworm moths cannot be counted on to replace pine nuts.
What It Takes to Kill a Grizzly Bear
Doug Peacock
November 23, 2014
He then abruptly departed for reasons that the school declines to clarify.
Alleged U.Va. Abductor Accused of Rape at Christian College
Michael Daly
September 28, 2014
But abruptly it intruded around corners when least expected after scenes of rural somnolence had lulled us.
As the Key Battle Looms, a Report from Ukraine's Front Lines
Jamie Dettmer
August 13, 2014
[Laughs] Firth: Oh God… And with that, the interview was abruptly ended halfway into my allotted time by the publicist.
Emma Stone and Colin Firth on Woody Allen, Shrinkage, and Live-Texting ‘Bridget Jones’
Marlow Stern
July 21, 2014

Historical Examples of abruptly

"I suppose you want to be taken back," said the superintendent, abruptly.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
Then, abruptly, the round, baby-like face of the woman puckered in amazement.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
Then abruptly, the young man spoke with the energy of perfect faith in the woman.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
Then, abruptly, the blue eyes were softened in their fires, as by the sudden nearness of tears.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
The girl in the bed eyed her, and then abruptly drew her hand away.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart

British Dictionary definitions for abruptly

abrupt

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

Derived Formsabruptly, adverbabruptness, noun

Word Origin for abrupt

C16: from Latin abruptus broken off, from ab- 1 + rumpere to break

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for abruptly

abrupt

adj.

1580s, from Latin abruptus "broken off, precipitous, disconnected," past participle of abrumpere "break off," from ab- "off" (see ab-) + rumpere "break" (see rupture (n.)). Related: Abruptly; abruptness.