terse
The professor gave a terse explanation of the complex theory.
The professor explained the theory in a concise and direct manner.
Using few words; concise and to the point
She sent a terse reply to his long email.
She responded with a short and direct message.
The instructions were terse, leaving little room for interpretation.
The directions were brief and left no ambiguity.
Often used to describe writing or speech that is clear but lacks detail.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Tone Awareness
Use terse language in professional or technical contexts, but avoid it in casual or sensitive conversations to prevent misunderstandings.
Word Origin
From Latin 'tersus', meaning 'polished' or 'clean', from 'tergere' meaning 'to wipe' or 'to clean'.
Usage Notes
Terse communication is often seen as efficient but can come across as abrupt or impolite if overused.