curtly
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of curtly
Explanation
When you say something in the shortest, most direct way, you do it curtly. People who speak curtly tend to use as few words as possible. Respond curtly to someone and you risk coming across as a bit rude, like when your sister asks for a bite of the brownie you're eating, and you curtly answer, "Nope." Or when a restaurant patron snaps at the server, curtly demanding a water refill. This adverb describes actions that are brief and to the point, and often brusque or abrupt. Curtly is derived from a root that means "to cut."
Vocabulary lists containing curtly
Night
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The City of Ember
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Out of My Mind
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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.
To which Riley curtly responded, “I don’t really care what he says.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2025
I realised the man was the minister for health, Dr Thet Khaing Win, and approached him for an interview but he curtly rejected my request.
From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2025
When Ms. Ford asked her curtly, “Who do you think you are, Cleopatra?”
From New York Times ● Jan. 13, 2024
Reid curtly batted away continued questions about the 20-17 defeat, where a rare offside penalty on wide receiver Kadarius Toney negated what would have been the go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 13, 2023
“I'll come to the library,” Dottor Massimo answered curtly.
From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke
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.
