laconically
In few words
Laconically means in a way that uses very few words—terse, spare, or economically phrased.
Someone who speaks laconically says only what's necessary: She answered laconically: "No.".
The word derives from Laconia, the region of ancient Greece where Spartans were known for their brief, pointed speech.
Brief to bluntness
- succinctExpressed with minimal words
- pithyConcise and forceful
- curtAbruptly rude in speech
- clippedCut or trimmed briefly
monosyllabic · brief · compact · concise · economical · crisp · short · abridged
Expressionless, especially for humor
- wryDryly mocking in tone
- sardonicGrimly mocking
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- drollOddly humorous
ironic · tongue-in-cheek · bone-dry · impassive · poker-faced · straight-faced · flat · expressionless
Habitually uncommunicative
- reservedRestrained in manner
- uncommunicativeUnwilling to share thoughts
- quietLacking in sound
- silentProducing no sound
tight-lipped · reticent · withdrawn · unforthcoming · close-mouthed · guarded · secretive · sparing
Abrupt and dismissive
- curtAbruptly rude in speech
- abruptSharp and unexpected
- gruffHarsh in manner
- bluntDull or tactlessly direct
sharp · direct · unvarnished · frank · plainspoken · matter-of-fact · no-nonsense · short
Without visible emotion
- unemotionalLacking outward feeling
- dispassionateFree from emotional involvement
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- phlegmaticUnemotionally calm, slow-reacting
stolid · imperturbable · unruffled · composed · austere · restrained · controlled · undemonstrative
terse
Brief to bluntness
clipped · monosyllabic · brief · compact · concise · economical · crisp · short · abridged · compressed
deadpan
Expressionless, especially for humor
- wryDryly mocking in tone
- sardonicGrimly mocking
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
droll · ironic · tongue-in-cheek · bone-dry · impassive · poker-faced · straight-faced · flat · expressionless · matter-of-fact
taciturn
Habitually uncommunicative
- reservedRestrained in manner
- uncommunicativeUnwilling to share thoughts
- quietLacking in sound
silent · tight-lipped · reticent · withdrawn · unforthcoming · close-mouthed · guarded · secretive · sparing · measured
brusque
Abrupt and dismissive
blunt · sharp · direct · unvarnished · frank · plainspoken · matter-of-fact · no-nonsense · short · unadorned
impassive
Without visible emotion
- unemotionalLacking outward feeling
- dispassionateFree from emotional involvement
- detachedApart or uninvolved
phlegmatic · stolid · imperturbable · unruffled · composed · austere · restrained · controlled · undemonstrative · cool
laconicallyverbosely
With too many words
long-windedly · wordily · loquaciously · garrulously · prolixly
laconicallyeffusively
With unrestrained enthusiasm
animatedly · exuberantly · enthusiastically · expressively · emotively