as in concisely
in a few words
the characters in Harold Pinter's plays speak elliptically leaving much of the meaning to be conveyed by the frequent, lengthy pauses
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Recent Examples of elliptically
Her outside-looking in remembrances (Romvari shoots scenes sometimes from the perspective of looking through a window) elliptically convey much – parental anguish about what would be the best call to action for the entire family, not the upheaval felt within the family.
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Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elliptically
Adverb
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Washington Crossing the Delaware is perfect tour-guide material—it can be seen by a bunch of people at once, and its story can be told concisely, timed to the minute.
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Knowing what to do if a power surge damages your appliances and electronics is essential for protecting your home, preventing future issues, and reporting damages clearly and concisely to your insurance company and the local electric company.
Adverb
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The blaze remained confined to the wrecking yard property, despite briefly jumping a fence and igniting vegetation to the west.
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The new educational panels were designed to replace ones put up in 2010 that told the story of how nine slaves lived in the home along with George and Martha Washington in the 1790s, when Philadelphia was briefly the nation’s capital.
Adverb
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That’s how Graeme McDowell tersely justified his reason for joining controversial LIV Golf in 2022.
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On Friday, the House Speaker, Mike Johnson, tersely rejected the bill, calling it a joke.
Cite this Entry
“Elliptically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elliptically. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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