curt

¹

[ kurt ]

adjective

, curt·er, curt·est.

1. rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner.

   Synonyms: sharp, snappish

2. brief; concise; terse; laconic.
3. short; shortened.

   Synonyms: abbreviated

Curt

²

[ kurt ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Curtis.

curt

/ kɜːt /

adjective

1. rudely blunt and brief; abrupt

   a curt reply

2. short or concise

Derived Forms

• ˈcurtly, adverb
• ˈcurtness, noun

Other Words From

• curt·ly adverb
• curt·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of curt¹

First recorded in 1620–30, curt is from the Latin word curtus “shortened, short, cut short”

Word History and Origins

Origin of curt¹

C17: from Latin curtus cut short, mutilated

Synonym Study

See blunt.

Example Sentences

The man who called me, a long-retired Chicago police officer, was alternately charming and curt.

From ProPublica

Former Red Sox star Curt Schilling says his politics are keeping him out of Cooperstown.

From The Daily Beast

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a darling of the left who identifies as a democratic socialist, was curt.

From The Daily Beast

The senator also is curt on the subject of the D.C. political magazine that scores the votes of every member of Congress.

From The Daily Beast

Wilson, who spoke to The Daily Beast from a cab on his way back up to Harlem, is curt and cold in conversation.

From The Daily Beast

Curt Smith of Tears for Fears played himself in the fifth season episode “Shawn 2.0.”

From The Daily Beast

Curt as is the cable it has yet scope to show up a little more of our great K.'s outfit.

From Project Gutenberg

It seemed to her that she had lived for a century since the few hours before when Madame Malmaison had given her a curt dismissal.

From Project Gutenberg

"That will do," said Halyard, ungraciously, which curt phrase was apparently the usual dismissal for the nurse.

From Project Gutenberg

Had it not been for occasional curt, illuminative questions, Peter Gross might have thought him asleep.

From Project Gutenberg

There came the hard, curt questions and the command: "Outside—hurry!"

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blunt
• brusque
• concise
• offhand
• pithy
• succinct
• terse