terse

[turs]

adjective

terser, tersest 

1. neatly or effectively concise; brief and pithy, as language.

   Synonyms: compendious, epigrammatic, brief, compact, succinct

2. abruptly concise; curt; brusque.

terse

/ tɜːs /

adjective

1. neatly brief and concise

2. curt; abrupt

Other Word Forms

• terseness noun
• tersely adverb
• unterse adjective
• unterseness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of terse¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin tersus, past participle of tergēre “to rub off, wipe off, clean, polish”

Word History and Origins

Origin of terse¹

C17: from Latin tersus precise, from tergēre to polish

Synonym Study

See concise.

Example Sentences

Similarly, “Rebuilding” is a tale of grief and what-ifs populated by everyday folks who speak in terse tones.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At the centre of it all is Prince Andrew, saying nothing now apart from his terse statement, written through gritted teeth, about his titles.

Read more on BBC

Her memories from the set of the first film were uncharacteristically terse.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Miller also pointed to the dichotomy of Porter’s terse reaction in the television interview to Porter championing herself in Congress as a fearless and aggressive inquisitor of CEOs and government leaders.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The late-night program has been dark since Wednesday, when the Disney-owned ABC network announced in a terse statement that it will be “preempted indefinitely.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brusque 
• concise 
• cryptic 
• curt 
• elliptical 
• incisive 
• laconic 
• pithy 
• precise 
• succinct 
• trenchant