succinct

adjective

suc·​cinct (ˌ)sək-ˈsiŋ(k)t  sə-ˈsiŋ(k)t 

1

: marked by compact precise expression without wasted words

a succinct description

2

archaic

a

: being girded

b

: close-fitting

succinctly

(ˌ)sək-ˈsiŋ(k)t-lē

-ˈsiŋ-klē

sə- 

adverb

succinctness

(ˌ)sək-ˈsiŋt-nəs

-ˈsiŋk-nəs

sə- 

noun

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A Succinct History of Succinct

The history of succinct might not be short, but it's a cinch to remember. Succinct traces to Latin succinctus ("tightly wrapped, concise"), which comes from the verb cingere ("to gird"), the word that gave us cincture and cinch. In its earliest uses succinct meant "confined" or "girded up," and, as such, it was often used in reference to garments encircled by a band. Eventually, succinct was extended to the realm of insects, where it meant "supported by a band of silk around the middle" (as in "the succinct pupa of a butterfly"). Later, the word was applied to writings. A "succinct" piece of writing is "compressed" or "compact" and uses as few words as possible.

Synonyms

• aphoristic
• apothegmatic
• brief
• capsule
• compact
• compendious
• concise
• crisp
• curt
• elliptical
• elliptic
• epigrammatic
• laconic
• monosyllabic
• pithy
• sententious
• summary
• telegraphic
• terse
• thumbnail

Choose the Right Synonym for succinct

concise, terse, succinct, laconic, summary, pithy, compendious mean very brief in statement or expression.

concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative.

a concise description

terse implies pointed conciseness.

a terse reply

succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation.

a summary listing of the year's main events

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

a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment.

a compendious dictionary

Examples of succinct in a Sentence

Other experts are in the business of selling their research. Alan Greenspan made his reputation and career as a partner of Townsend-Greenspan, whose clients were a who's who of old Wall Street. Successful research firms can command substantial fees, and buyers demand clear, succinct and unequivocal analysis and predictions. —Zachary Karabell, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2009

As Esther Benbassa recounts in her dry but impressively succinct and informative history, they arrived in the Roman province of Gaul in the first centuries of the common era, and soon found themselves trod underfoot by the ascendant Christian church. —David A. Bell, New Republic, 28 Feb. 2000

In his first work of popular science, English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking proves himself to be a master of vivid clarity. His title, " A Brief History of Time," is understated even by British standards; in 198 pages Hawking manages no less than a succinct history of cosmology, a concise explanation of general relativity and its intersection with quantum mechanics … —Richard Rhodes, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 1988

He gave a succinct overview of the expansion project.

a pocket guide that provides succinct explanations for rules of grammar and punctuation

Recent Examples on the Web

Speaking on behalf of the Mercosur nations, President of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou was more restrained and succinct. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 6 Dec. 2024

Reed makes Daisy feel special, teasing an exciting life filled with danger and offering succinct praise framed as keen insights. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2024

The interview was edited to include a more succinct answer that Harris gave later in the conversation—a routine practice in TV production. —Alena Botros, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024

In three succinct yet potent lines, Stevenson describes the beauty beneath the mire of metamorphosis. —Juan Velasquez, Them, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin succinctus having one's clothes gathered up by a belt, tightly wrapped, concise, from sub- + cinctus, past participle of cingere to gird — more at cincture

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

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Kids Definition

succinct

adjective

suc·​cinct (ˌ)sək-ˈsiŋ(k)t  sə-ˈsiŋ(k)t 

: marked by short concise expression without wasted words

succinctly adverb

succinctness noun