Definition

1. 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

1. 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