Terse Meaning in English
word
Definition
If something is terse, it is said or written in a very short way that sometimes sounds unfriendly or rude.
Usage & Nuances
"Terse" often describes speech or writing that is brief to the point of seeming unfriendly or annoyed. Common collocations: "terse reply," "terse comment." Used for both positive (efficient, to the point) and negative (abrupt, cold) contexts. Not used in casual speech; fairly formal.
Spanish: conciso - lacónicoPortuguese (BR): conciso - lacônicoPortuguese (PT): conciso - lacónicoChinese (Simplified): 简洁的 - 言简意赅的Chinese (Traditional): 簡潔的 - 言簡意賅的Hindi: संक्षिप्त - टका साArabic: مقتضب - موجزBengali: সংক্ষিপ্ত - সংযত (রুক্ষ অর্থে)Russian: краткий - лаконичный (резкий оттенок)Japanese: 簡潔な - ぶっきらぼうなVietnamese: ngắn gọn - cộc lốcKorean: 간결한 - 무뚝뚝한Turkish: kısa ve öz - sertUrdu: مختصر - رُوکھا (مختصر مگر غیر دوستانہ انداز)Indonesian: singkat - lugas (kadang terdengar dingin)
Example Sentences
His terse answer surprised everyone.
basic
The teacher gave a terse comment on the essay.
basic
Her message was terse and to the point.
basic
He just gave a terse 'no' when I asked for help.
natural
Her tone was so terse that I felt like I'd done something wrong.
natural
You don't have to be so terse—just tell me what's wrong.
natural