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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The City of Ember
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Out of My Mind
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“I trust my authors,” Frick says curtly when asked broadly about nailing down truth in memoir.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
She curtly replied that she would not comment on an ongoing investigation and left the room.
From BBC ● May 25, 2026
He curtly dismisses 2005’s strong “A Bigger Bang” and 2016’s “Blue & Lonesome,” a back-to-basics album of blues covers, as “adequate endeavors that signaled a band living on borrowed time.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026
Karen purrs, stopping curtly when Roy gently lifts his hand.
From Salon ● Dec. 6, 2023
When he was reminded that he had been just as sour about his prospects before both the 1928 and 1932 Olympics, he replied curtly, “This time it’s different.”
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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.
