curtness

Abrupt, clipped manner

Curtness is abrupt brevity in speech or manner, often to the point of rudeness.

Where terseness might be neutral or even admired, curtness carries a negative edge—suggesting impatience, dismissiveness, or deliberate coldness: His curtness on the phone made it clear he didn't want to talk.

The word implies not just few words, but too few.

brevity

terse

Brief to bluntness

laconicBrief in expression
succinctExpressed with minimal words
conciseBriefly and clearly stated

pithy · clipped · telegraphic · monosyllabic · economical · sparse · compact · crisp · short · elliptical

rudeness

brusque

Abrupt and dismissive

gruffHarsh in manner
snappyQuick and clever
rudeOffensively ill-mannered

impolite · discourteous · ungracious · harsh · peremptory · snappish · tactless · offhand · unceremonious · abrupt

directness

blunt

Dull or tactlessly direct

frankOpen and direct
candidHonest and direct
forthrightDirectly honest in manner

unvarnished · plain-spoken · straightforward · undiplomatic · point-blank · outspoken · matter-of-fact · no-nonsense · unfiltered · direct

curtness

terse

brusque

blunt

curtness

Opposites

Categories

Family