abrupt
Without any warning
Abrupt describes something sudden and unexpected, often jarringly so: an abrupt change in plans, The music came to an abrupt stop.
Applied to manner or speech, abrupt suggests curtness or brusqueness—someone who is abrupt cuts interaction short without the usual social smoothing: His abrupt dismissal left her stunned.
An abrupt slope or cliff rises steeply.
Abruptly rude in speech
snappy · clipped · sharp · direct · tactless · undiplomatic · unceremonious · rude
Not anticipated beforehand
- immediateHappening without delay
- precipitousExtremely steep, almost vertical
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- instantaneousHappening without any delay
rapid · swift · hasty · impulsive · spontaneous · unanticipated · startling · surprising
Broken into pieces
- disconnectedSeparated from a source
- incoherentLacking logical connection
- choppyBroken into waves
- brokenDamaged beyond function
discontinuous · halting · truncated · segmented · interrupted · uneven · erratic · stilted
Vertical rock wall
- precipiceSteep rock face
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- dropoffAbrupt descent point
- sheerAbsolute; also diaphanous
vertical · plunging · craggy · bluff · ledge · overhang · sharp · perpendicular
Causing intense surprise
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
- unsettlingCausing unease or discomfort
- disconcertingCausing unease or confusion
- disturbingCausing mental unease
disruptive · dissonant · jolting · wrenching · convulsive · turbulent · violent · jerky
curt
Abruptly rude in speech
short · snappy · clipped · sharp · direct · tactless · undiplomatic · unceremonious · rude · discourteous
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
- immediateHappening without delay
- precipitousExtremely steep, almost vertical
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
instantaneous · rapid · swift · hasty · impulsive · spontaneous · unanticipated · startling · surprising · precipitate
fragmented
Broken into pieces
- disconnectedSeparated from a source
- incoherentLacking logical connection
- choppyBroken into waves
broken · discontinuous · halting · truncated · segmented · interrupted · uneven · erratic · stilted · lurching
cliff
Vertical rock wall
- precipiceSteep rock face
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- dropoffAbrupt descent point
sheer · vertical · plunging · craggy · bluff · ledge · overhang · sharp · perpendicular · incline
shocking
Causing intense surprise
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
- unsettlingCausing unease or discomfort
- disconcertingCausing unease or confusion
disturbing · disruptive · dissonant · jolting · wrenching · convulsive · turbulent · violent · jerky · staccato
- suddennesssudden, suddenly, instant, instantly, immediate
- dismissive behaviorssnub, scorn, ignore, disdain, dismissal
- rudenessrude, discourtesy, impolite, rudeness, disrespect
- shortshort, brief, small, little, tiny
- brevitybrevity, concise, succinct, terse, pithy
- distributionsnormal, uniform, binomial, exponential, bell curve
abruptgradual
Developing slowly over time
slow · incremental · progressive · leisurely · unhurried
- abrupt haltSudden, complete cessation
- abrupt transitionSudden, unexpected change