laconic
/lə'kɔnik/ Cách viết khác : (laconical) /lə'kɔnikəl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Using very few words; concise to the point of seeming mysterious or abrupt. A laconic statement or person expresses a lot of meaning in a very brief, direct, and often dry or witty way.
Usage
- The word laconic describes a style of communication. It is used to characterize speech, writing, or a person's manner as notably brief and pithy, often implying a deliberate or inherent terseness.
- It is a formal or literary term, typically used in descriptive or analytical contexts.
Examples
- Adjective:
- His laconic reply, "Indeed," ended the discussion.
- The general was known for his laconic battlefield commands.
- The author's laconic style makes every sentence powerful.
Advanced Usage
- "Laconic wit": A form of humor characterized by extremely brief, sharp, and often understated remarks.
- The comedian was famous for his laconic wit, delivering punchlines with a deadpan expression.
- "Laconic to a fault": So brief in speech that it becomes problematic or causes misunderstanding.
- His instructions were laconic to a fault, leaving the team confused about the next steps.
Variants and Related Words
- Laconically (adverb): In a laconic manner.
- She answered laconically, "No comment."
- Laconicism (noun): A laconic phrase or style; terseness.
- His laconicism was often mistaken for rudeness.
Synonyms
- Terse: Neatly concise and often abrupt.
- Succinct: Expressed clearly and in few words.
- Concise: Giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words.
- Pithy: Concise and forcefully expressive.
- Brusque: Abrupt or offhand in speech or manner (can imply rudeness, unlike the more neutral ).
Antonyms
- Verbose: Using or expressed in more words than are needed.
- Prolix: Using too many words; tediously lengthy.
- Loquacious: Tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
- Garrulous: Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "Laconic speech": A common collocation describing the manner of speaking.
- The detective's laconic speech unnerved the suspect.
- "To be laconic": The standard phrasing to describe a person's characteristic.
- He has always been laconic, even as a child.
Adjective
- brief and to the point; effectively cut short; `yes'"
- a crisp retort
- a response so curt as to be almost rude
- the laconic reply
- short and terse and easy to understand