tersely

[ turs-lee ]

adverb

1. in an effectively concise manner; succinctly:

   This phenomenally prolific creator of tersely plotted psychological thrillers deserves to be on your bookshelves.

   The ordinance fulfills the tersely and clearly worded language of the city's comprehensive plan.

2. in an abruptly concise manner; brusquely:

   “Maybe that's my business,” replied the girl tersely as she turned away.

Other Words From

• un·terse·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tersely¹

terse ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

It also cited the minutes of trustee meetings, which describe the proceedings tersely.

From ProPublica

In his first and arguably most famous novel, The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway wrote tersely but lovingly about the annual running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, during the seven-day Festival of San Fermín.

From Ars Technica

All that remains is a scrawled caption that tersely reveals what happened at the unseeable place.

From Washington Post

Biden “is a very decent guy, is capable and bright [and] qualified,” Panetta said tersely.

From The Daily Beast

“James is very generous with his comments,” Thurmond later tersely responded.

From The Daily Beast

We have a daughter,” she told him tersely, “and she is hungry.

From The Daily Beast

"I need to speak to my aunt," I said tersely, not wanting to speak to Zardari.

From The Daily Beast

And up there—alone amidst the clouds—Guy Oscard was, as he himself tersely put it, "sticking to it."

From Project Gutenberg

Then, as the sacred chronicler tersely and with Homeric brevity tells us, the shepherd "slew both the lion and the bear."

From Project Gutenberg

The charges, as worded by Nelson, were two in number, tersely and clearly stated.

From Project Gutenberg

They were convincing, informing; tersely—even eloquently—descriptive, with a vein of humor adapted to their audience.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon one an inscription was placed which tersely expressed the true state of the case: "Pontifex Colinii necem probat."

From Project Gutenberg