ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary BuilderWordsBbrusque
ISEE/SSAThard
brusque
Meaning: abrupt and blunt in manner or speech
brusque in a sentence
How brusque is used in real sentences:
The manager's brusque reply left the new employee feeling unwelcome.
Her brusque tone during the meeting made several coworkers uncomfortable.
“Voss returned a brusque note: accounts were delayed, obedience was not.”
— from the passage The Officers' Correspondence
“At morning reviews, her brusque questions sometimes carried an asperity that made interns hesitate, especially when a graph lacked error bars.”
— from the passage The Returning Hinge
“Grandfather's reply was brusque: “Sit still, or leave.” Mother tried to cajole Theo into obedience, praising his “grown-up manners” and promising him a second dessert in the kitchen.”
— from the passage The Empty Chair
Synonyms for brusque
Other words for brusque — curt, gruff and blunt — carry the same meaning.
- curt
- gruff
- blunt
Antonyms of brusque
Words that mean the opposite of brusque:
- gracious
- courteous
Where it comes from
From Italian brusco 'sour, tart'
Memory hook
BRUSQUE sounds like BRUSH-off — someone who brushes you off rudely and quickly.