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 abruptness

shelf, ramp, hill, bewilderment, consternation, revelation, shock, jolt, miracle, disappointment, curiosity, amazement, awe, wonder, astonishment, declivity, tip, cant, bias, bend

Examples from the Web for abruptness

Contemporary Examples of abruptness

Given the abruptness of his departure, he may yet have to decide himself, aides and friends say.
Gen. McChrystal: Future Bookstore Owner?
Ellen Knickmeyer
June 29, 2010

Historical Examples of abruptness

With an abruptness that almost awakened her, he carried her in to his wife.
Dust
Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
The abruptness of the action did not create any emotion in him—his thoughts were absent.
Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
Noting she looked hurt at his abruptness, he kissed her quickly.
The End of Time
Wallace West
He admitted the impeachment in the midst of his astonishment with an abruptness equal to her own.
The Golden Woman
Ridgwell Cullum
He stopped in the middle of the room with an abruptness which portended something.
The Lure of the Mask
Harold MacGrath

British Dictionary definitions for abruptness

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 abruptness

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.