Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective compendious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of compendious are concise, laconic, pithy, succinct, summary, and terse. While all these words mean "very brief in statement or expression," compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment.

a compendious dictionary

In what contexts can concise take the place of compendious?

The words concise and compendious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative.

a concise description

When might laconic be a better fit than compendious?

The synonyms laconic and compendious are sometimes interchangeable, but laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

How does the word pithy relate to other synonyms for compendious?

Pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance.

a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

When is succinct a more appropriate choice than compendious?

In some situations, the words succinct and compendious are roughly equivalent. However, succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

When can summary be used instead of compendious?

The meanings of summary and compendious largely overlap; however, summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation.

a summary listing of the year's main events

When is it sensible to use terse instead of compendious?

Although the words terse and compendious have much in common, terse implies pointed conciseness.

a terse reply

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 compendious In The Great Miscalculation: The Race to Save New York City’s Citicorp Tower (New York University Press, $27.95), Michael M. Greenburg goes into compendious detail about the debacle. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025 The curious thing about this compendious, scrupulously researched biography, so rich in basketball and cultural lore, is that the best parts are not about basketball at all. Thomas Beller, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2023 Although employment has begun to recover, the need to create jobs has prompted several Indian states to suspend many of the country’s compendious labour regulations. The Economist, 27 June 2020 Nonetheless, astronomers and astrophysicists came together to write a single compendious paper about the event. Adrian Cho, Science | AAAS, 16 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compendious
Adjective
  • Researchers will continue monitoring the southern resident population while advocating for comprehensive recovery efforts.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Unlike past efforts, China offers a comprehensive portfolio of hardware, from drones and radar to naval assets, that could form the technological basis of a shared force.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Harnessing Technology the Right Way Mr. Espino has embraced artificial intelligence (AI), but with a focused strategy using concise and precise data.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • McVey, 28, has reaped a personal bonus from the concise coaching: he’s been freed up to develop his game by not having to direct traffic as much.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Our department is committed to a thorough and impartial review.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2025
  • There were too many instances of big plays that could have been prevented had the initial tackle attempt been successful, and at the very least, a more thorough attempt would have helped slow the ball carrier down.
    Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Young looked sharp throughout the summer, but his brief preseason misgivings carried over to the regular-season opener.
    DIAMOND VENCES, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The brief and unremarkable tenure of France’s prime minister has come crashing to an end.
    Cole Stangler, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • As a result of the one-off costs, the company said its now expect full-year operating profit growth of 4% to 10% at constant exchange rates, down from the 10% to 16% outlined in its second-quarter results in August.
    Karen Gilchrist,Katrina Bishop, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • A lot of true crime content is salacious and gory, full of reenactments and shock.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Such rights obviously do not include summary execution at sea.
    Mary Ellen O'Connell, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Not surprisingly, given the risk of summary execution, many had initial doubts.
    Yossi Melman, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Add in the possibility of more extensive – and costly – work such as bridges, crowns, extractions or implants, and the anxiety can grow even stronger.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Since marrying Horace at the end of Episode 1, Kimmie has conducted extensive research on Beauty in Black and has been under the mentorship of her husband, who is still alive and currently in Italy, undergoing experimental cancer treatment.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The home boasts panoramic mountain views and a dramatic two-story great room with a towering stone fireplace.
    Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Their upstairs room full of antique tomes provides panoramic views of the historic statehouse and its statue of former governor William Goebel, who was assassinated on the grounds in 1900.
    Robin Roenker, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Compendious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compendious. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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