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
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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
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Recent Examples of abrupt
The abrupt realignment of the United States has not constrained the Ukrainian deep strike campaign.
—
David Axe, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Keep a safe distance: Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.
—Southern California Weather Report, Orange County Register, 22 Feb. 2025
After a successful first year — 25 wins, the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory since 2010, a fourth-place finish in the SEC — Gates’ honeymoon phase at Missouri came to an abrupt halt in Year 2 with the program’s first winless conference season (0-18) since 1908.
—Cj Moore, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Off-screen, however, Downey was dealing with addiction issues, which led to increasingly sporadic on-screen appearances and his abrupt departure from the series.
—EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abrupt
David Axe, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Keep a safe distance: Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.
—Southern California Weather Report, Orange County Register, 22 Feb. 2025
After a successful first year — 25 wins, the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory since 2010, a fourth-place finish in the SEC — Gates’ honeymoon phase at Missouri came to an abrupt halt in Year 2 with the program’s first winless conference season (0-18) since 1908.
—Cj Moore, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Off-screen, however, Downey was dealing with addiction issues, which led to increasingly sporadic on-screen appearances and his abrupt departure from the series.
—EW.com, 19 Feb. 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
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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
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At first glance, the price tags for premium domains can seem steep, with some reaching seven figures.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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The steep new tariffs could have far-reaching effects, extending beyond the specific industries where taxes are levied.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Release date, cast, more Queen Latifah, Adrien Brody, Kerry Washington, more stars flock to Thom Browne's NYFW show 'Really bummed out:' Beverly Ortega explains sudden departure from 'The Bachelor' When is WorldPride Music Festival 2025?—
Anthony Robledo,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
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Written and directed by Dylan Southern and adapted from the book Grief Is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter, the new film follows a father (Cumberbatch) and his two sons (Richard and Henry Boxall) who are struggling to cope with the sudden loss of their wife and mother.—
Lily Ford,
The Hollywood Reporter,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Followers of the show this season (its second) will know that one of the best parts of the show is Tomlinson’s often too short monologue.—
Will DiGravio,
TIME,
21 Feb. 2025
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Denim was a popular pairing for fur coats—long and short.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There may be many unexpected effects of repeal that might require revision to plans and documents.—
Martin Shenkman,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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Trump's unexpected rejection of the Senate's plan stunned Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who had carefully structured the two-bill strategy to secure early wins for the White House.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Ashanti’s lithe voice perfectly complimented Ja’s gruff vocal tone, providing Murder Inc.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2025
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The gruff men are Danny and Kyle McCray, an estranged father and son who’ve been reunited by a medical emergency.—
Elisabeth Egan,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Before Rocky could reply, Rihanna interjected with a curt reaction.—
Edward Segarra,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
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The men are usually portrayed as very curt and not very affectionate, and the women are very ‘ingenue-y’ and sweet and innocent.—
David L. Coddon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Harry would’ve been grumpy and rude, making brusque jokes about inane gender stereotypes and asking direct, invasive questions about anatomy.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Abrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrupt. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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