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
He’s easily distracted by sounds or activity, often needs questions repeated and uses abrupt matter-of-fact phrases that could be considered rude, the filings said.
—
Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2025
These abrupt shifts in trade policy create further uncertainty for businesses, discouraging investment and hiring as companies navigate an increasingly unstable economic environment.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025
Reality check: That does not necessarily mean an abrupt slowdown, or a recession, or 2022-style inflation.
—Neil Irwin, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
That analysis, however, misses the crucial role of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces in the country’s abrupt impoverishment.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abrupt
Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2025
These abrupt shifts in trade policy create further uncertainty for businesses, discouraging investment and hiring as companies navigate an increasingly unstable economic environment.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025
Reality check: That does not necessarily mean an abrupt slowdown, or a recession, or 2022-style inflation.
—Neil Irwin, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
That analysis, however, misses the crucial role of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces in the country’s abrupt impoverishment.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrupt
Adjective
-
Alsup, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, has presided over many high-profile cases and is known for his blunt talk.—
JANIE HAR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Justin Bieber let fans in on his smoke break Thursday (Feb. 27), with the star sharing a carefree video of himself enjoying what appears to be a blunt or cigar while jamming out to Don Toliver on Instagram Stories.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Bitcoin, a market bellwether, fell 18% in February — its steepest drop since June 2022.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
4 Mar. 2025
-
The current de facto Moroccan sovereignty only prolongs Sahrawis’ exile, and an escalation would carry steep costs for all sides.—
Hannah Rae Armstrong,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Escaping a sudden, massive flood, a smart, mischievous black cat clambers aboard a boat shared by a dog, a capybara, and a lemur, as well as a long-legged secretary bird.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
2 Mar. 2025
-
With a career in music that spanned the late ’70s through her sudden passing, Stone topped both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Adult R&B Airplay charts and was nominated for three Grammy Awards.—
Ashley Iasimone,
Billboard,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
He was injured almost immediately in the fall of 2018 and didn’t return until February; by that time Cleveland was already in stage 1 of a painful (but, ultimately, short) rebuild.—
Joe Vardon,
The Athletic,
6 Mar. 2025
-
California will experience longer days and shorter nights up until the summer solstice on Friday, June 20, the longest day of the year.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacramento Bee,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The taupe, brown, and various pinks make a stylish statement by reiterating classic patterns in an unexpected colorway.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
4 Mar. 2025
-
That's what your nation's human space flight program is all about, planning for unknown, unexpected contingencies.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The gruff but beloved Hackman was among the most accomplished actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.—
Susan Montoya Bryan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Ford’s actually relatively locked-in as the gruff but supportive Colonel Graff training the impressionable Ender (Asa Butterfield), who has to save the universe as all lads in these types of films tend to do.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
There were abrasive, curt interviews with the media.—
Cam Inman,
The Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Before Rocky could reply, Rihanna interjected with a curt reaction.—
Edward Segarra,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The world’s third largest economy goes to the polls Sunday under the shadow of unusually brusque interventions from the Trump administration in support of the anti-immigration far right.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC News,
22 Feb. 2025
-
In the first season, the series wondered what would happen if therapist Jimmy, despondent after becoming a widower, started giving his patients brusque, confrontational advice on how to deal with their problems.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Abrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrupt. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share