brusque
Americanadjective
adjective
Synonym Usage
See blunt.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of brusque
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Middle French, from Italian brusco “rough, tart,” special use of brusco (noun) “butcher's broom,” from Late Latin brūscum, for Latin rūscus, rūscum, perhaps conflated with unattested Vulgar Latin brūcus “heather” ( see brier 2)
Explanation
If you ask a salesperson for help finding something and all you get in response is a brusque "Everything's out on the shelves," you'll probably take your business elsewhere. A brusque manner of speaking is unfriendly, rude, and very brief. Brush and brusque are not related, but they sound similar — when someone is brusque, you often feel that they are trying to give you the brush off. Near synonyms for brusque are curt, short, and gruff. Brusque (pronounced "brusk") was borrowed from the French word meaning "lively or fierce," from Italian brusco, "coarse, rough."
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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.
Liam’s initially brusque behavior might once have caused another row.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
But McElwee’s nonlinear construction and brusque, confessional narration slowly transform the film into something much deeper, a poignant work of art that instantly yet subtly aligns itself with the great stories of our time.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
Tudor's brusque, plain speaking style got no more out of the Spurs squad than Frank's more empathetic approach.
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026
Dan leads the Seder in such a brusque way that his wife reflects, “on this night my husband is a control freak. That’s how he celebrates freedom from slavery.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026
It was a sparkling, whiter-than-white winter morning, a morning of brusque sky, inky black branches, and the blinding, two-dimensional look of new snow.
From "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
