curtly

[ kurt-lee ]

adverb

so briefly or stiffly as to seem rude or snippy; tersely: The officer saw my foreign passport and curtly ordered me to step aside. Saying nothing, she nodded curtly at me and pointed to one of the two chairs.

Origin of curtly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

“Matt called me from the Library [bar] at 3:15 PM,” Doc told me curtly.
The Myths of Matthew Shepard’s Infamous Death | Stephen Jimenez | September 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Asked what he wanted from them, he retorted curtly, “Nothing whatsoever.”
In Syria, Rebels Without a Plan | Jamie Dettmer | September 21, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
“He was terminated for cause on July 25,” a Fox spokesperson curtly said in a statement.
How to Get Fired in Spectacular Fashion | Nina Strochlic | August 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
"He just happened to be married and he seemed to have forgotten he was married," she says, curtly.
Celebrity Mistress Convention | Tricia Romano | July 11, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
"Take those men to the guardhouse," he ordered curtly, pointing an accusing finger at Hicks and Bevans.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair

"No, he isn't," Mazaroff said curtly as he came into the front room and closed the door behind him.
The Weight of the Crown | Fred M. White
Lechmere explained curtly that he would see to Maxgregor's safety, after which he would follow to the queen's hotel.
The Weight of the Crown | Fred M. White
Both men curtly acknowledged Barrington's greeting, hardly conscious of the curtness maybe.
The Light That Lures | Percy Brebner
"All men don't pay such attentions to their wives," says Caroline, curtly.
The Petty Troubles of Married Life, Complete | Honore de Balzac

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