monosyllabic

American  

[mon-uh-si-lab-ik] / ˌmɒn ə sɪˈlæb ɪk /

adjective

1. having only one syllable, as the word no.

2. having a vocabulary composed primarily of monosyllables or short, simple words.

3. very brief; terse or blunt.

   a monosyllabic reply.

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monosyllabic British  

/ ˌmɒnəsɪˈlæbɪk /

adjective

1. (of a word) containing only one syllable

2. characterized by monosyllables; curt

   a monosyllabic answer

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Other Word Forms

• monosyllabically adverb
• monosyllabicity noun

Etymology

Origin of monosyllabic

1815–25; < Medieval Latin monosyllabicus, equivalent to Late Latin monosyllab ( on ) monosyllable (< Greek monosýllabon, noun use of neuter of monosýllabos monosyllabic) + -icus -ic

Example Sentences

"I think I got very solitary, very monosyllabic during that time. I won't sugar coat it - I was in a very, very bad place at that time."

From BBC

Ice Spice has a way with a hilarious, monosyllabic insult hurled like a blunt instrument.

From New York Times

Here, with his hand gestures and the frequent monosyllabic exclamations of exasperation, the actor’s Salvo sometimes resembles a kinder, gentler version of his Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull.”

From New York Times

To quote “Now & Then” column founder Paul Dorpat, “In the moment it might take an exhausted barrister to mouth a monosyllabic indecency, the old embarrassment was leveled.”

From Seattle Times

Having made peace with my own widely used, boringly monosyllabic surname years ago, I read that story with no small amusement.

From Los Angeles Times