1
as in blunt
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner
the policeman's abrupt manner discouraged me from trying to claim that I hadn't seen the red light
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in steep
having an incline approaching the perpendicular
the gentle, rolling hills gradually give way to high mountains with abrupt sides
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sudden
not expected
his abrupt reappearance seems to have caught everyone off guard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abrupt
Rubio’s abrupt cancellation raised doubts about the direction of negotiations.
—
Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
The abrupt layoffs of key personnel, including biologists at the Kauaʻi National Wildlife Refuge Complex, have left entire habitats unguarded.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Still, the abrupt ending of MITRE’s support is triggering fears the CVE program might collapse without a central authority to help administer it.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
But businesses need stability to make the kinds of major capital investments that building new factories in this country requires, not a climate defined by ninety-day pauses and abrupt reversals.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abrupt
Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
The abrupt layoffs of key personnel, including biologists at the Kauaʻi National Wildlife Refuge Complex, have left entire habitats unguarded.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Still, the abrupt ending of MITRE’s support is triggering fears the CVE program might collapse without a central authority to help administer it.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
But businesses need stability to make the kinds of major capital investments that building new factories in this country requires, not a climate defined by ninety-day pauses and abrupt reversals.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrupt
Adjective
-
Autopsy results revealed that Morin had endured 15 to 20 blows to the head and had died from a combination of strangulation and blunt force trauma.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Not to be blunt, but there’s really no good excuse to skip SPF application, regardless of your skin tone or skin type.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This gorgeous option has distressed floral medallions that look lived-in for vintage charm, all without a steep price point.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The requirements for that are steep and include proving either your parent or grandparent was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Several conditions may cause sudden vision loss, such as an eye injury.—
Heidi Cope,
Health,
19 Apr. 2025
-
All of a sudden, something that was a huge source of joy in my grandparents’ life became a challenge.—
Katie Akin,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
After a short ceremony, the church will open to the public from: Wednesday: 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday: 7 a.m. to midnight Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
In short, the people about to have their wages garnished or their tax refunds seized are often those who can least afford it.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Aaron Rodgers clearly enjoys holding the NFL hostage: The NFL’s lamest offseason storyline had a new – but not unexpected – twist Thursday when Aaron Rodgers had thoughts on the New York Jets and new head coach Aaron Glenn.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Friends are stunned when unexpected companions join them on safari.—
FOXNews.com,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Bowling paints with the rhythm of a gruff intellectual.—
James Russell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The actor behind the gruff but lovable Roy Kent shared a purrfectly eccentric analogy about the show's return on a recent episode of NPR's Wild Card podcast.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The sixth song on Beyoncé’s eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter, is a curt history lesson nestled in a massive song cycle with an undeniable rallying cry.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2025
-
There was also his curt response to a strange controversy over his decision not to include an image of Armstrong planting the American flag on the moon.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In conversation, de Moraes often veers between jokes and brusque legal assertions.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Even before this week, the downside of the Trump White House’s brusque treatment of historic U.S. allies was obvious.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrupt. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share