brusque
adjective
Did you know?
We borrowed brusque from French in the 1600s. The French, in turn, had borrowed it from Italian, where it was spelled brusco and meant "tart." And the Italian term came from bruscus, the Medieval Latin name for butcher's-broom, a shrub whose bristly leaf-like twigs have long been used for making brooms. English speakers initially used brusque to refer to a tartness in wine, but the word soon came to denote a harsh and stiff manner, which is just what you might expect of a word bristling with associations to stiff, scratchy brooms.
Synonyms
- abrupt
- bluff
- blunt
- crusty
- curt
- downright
- short
- short-spoken
- snippy
- unceremonious
Example Sentences
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2022 Policy experts largely expect such a hearing with Musk, who is known for his brusque criticism of lawmakers, would devolve into a media frenzy. Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2022 Young, who was first elected to the U.S. House in 1973, was known for his brusque style. Becky Bohrer, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Mar. 2022 Young, who was first elected to the U.S. House in 1973, was known for his brusque style. Becky Bohrer, ajc, 19 Mar. 2022 Our man of action completely pivots in this Melissa McCarthy vehicle, sending up the brusque man of action to great effect in this hilarious film. Elliott Smith, EW.com, 4 May 2022 Reelected to his 25th term as Alaska's only member of the House in 2020, he was known for a brusque style and for bringing federal investments home to Alaska. Libby Cathey, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2022 Young, who was first elected to the House in 1973, was known for his brusque style and for bringing federal investment to the state. Kevin Freking, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Mar. 2022 Young, who was first elected to the House in 1973, was known for his brusque style. Editors, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
French brusque, from Italian brusco, from Medieval Latin bruscus butcher's-broom (plant with bristly twigs)
circa 1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
brusque
adjective
brusque
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- curt
- abrupt
- blunt
- gruff
- rude
- snippy
- short
- unceremonious
- downright
- crusty
- bluff
- snappish
- frank
- forthright
- crass
- outspoken
- short-spoken
- discourteous
- laconic
- terse
- straightforward
- tactless
- impolite
- plainspoken
- undiplomatic
- disrespectful
- insensitive
- candid
- direct
- inconsiderate
- brief
- artless
- impertinent
- plain
- reserved
- sincere
- rough
- reticent
- earnest
- free-spoken
- closemouthed
- uncouth
- crude
- coarse
- vulgar
- tight-lipped
- straight-out
- honest
- open
- point-blank
- foursquare
- low
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- polite
- courteous
- tactful
- diplomatic
- gracious
- circuitous
- suave
- civil
- smooth
- considerate
- talkative
- voluble
- loquacious
- politic
- prolix
- mealymouthed
- verbose
- genteel
- polished
- gallant
- long-winded
- courtly
- refined
- cultivated
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of brusque are bluff, blunt, crusty, curt, and gruff. While all these words mean "abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner," brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness.
The meanings of bluff and brusque largely overlap; however, bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality.
While in some cases nearly identical to brusque, blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings.
The words crusty and brusque are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness.
The synonyms curt and brusque are sometimes interchangeable, but curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness.
While the synonyms gruff and brusque are close in meaning, gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness.