variants also brusk

Synonym Chooser

How is the word brusque distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of brusque are bluff, blunt, crusty, curt, and gruff. While all these words mean "abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner," brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness.

a brusque response

In what contexts can bluff take the place of brusque?

The meanings of bluff and brusque largely overlap; however, bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality.

a bluff manner

When might blunt be a better fit than brusque?

While in some cases nearly identical to brusque, blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings.

a blunt appraisal

Where would crusty be a reasonable alternative to brusque?

The words crusty and brusque are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness.

a crusty exterior

When could curt be used to replace brusque?

The synonyms curt and brusque are sometimes interchangeable, but curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness.

a curt command

When is gruff a more appropriate choice than brusque?

While the synonyms gruff and brusque are close in meaning, gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness.

puts on a gruff pose

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 brusque Commerzbank was previously targeted for takeover by the country’s largest lender Deutsche Bank, before the brusque collapse of initial talks in 2019. Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2025 And Butler’s brusque, beady-eyed, scowling-hulk charisma has aged well. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025 Four years later, following her Curb Your Enthusiasm self-parody comeback episode earlier this year, Loughlin now stars as the brusque Lieutenant Bishop in On Call, marking her return to television in a recurring role. Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2024 And a lot of Nico’s superior-being-observing-insects vibe can be traced back to his bizarre accent, the highs and lows of it, its melodic drone and brusque verve. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for brusque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brusque
Adjective
  • The abrupt methodological switch to the CPM resulted in over $9 billion worth of section 482 allocations and deficiencies of about $3.4 billion for the three-year period.
    Ryan Finley, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Gradually ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.
    Bay Area Weather Report, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 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
  • 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
  • At the time, Pearce called out a rude fan while performing at WE Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Anti-Tesla sentiment is at an all-time high, whether expressed through rude bumper stickers and peaceful protest or vandalism and arson, in part because Musk has continually stoked tension with his far-right politics.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 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
  • 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
  • Things are, per forma, cool and snippy at the start, until Claire suggests a road trip and a tentative robot romance blossoms.
    Vulture Editors, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Julia Michaels and Maren Morris are feeling snippy.
    Marina Watts, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s no shortage of pop culture references showcasing how badly an unceremonious pause can go (cough, Ross and Rachel).
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 24 Feb. 2025
  • In December 2024, the closure of RateBeer was announced in rather unceremonious fashion with Tucker posting a public statement on the website with instructions on how users can download their ratings before the site is closed down.
    Don Tse, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brusque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brusque. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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