Abrupt — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ə-ˈbrəpt/

Meaning & Definition of Abrupt

Abrupt (adjective)

  1. characterized by or involving action or change without preparation or warning, sudden and unexpected
  2. rudely or unceremoniously curt
  3. lacking smoothness or continuity

Abrupt (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner

    "the policeman's abrupt manner discouraged me from trying to claim that I hadn't seen the red light"

    similar: bluff, blunt, brusque, crusty, curt, downright, short, short-spoken, snippy, unceremonious
    related: gruff, rough, snappish, candid, direct, forthright, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, open, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, point-blank, straightforward, straight-out, artless, discourteous, disrespectful, impertinent, impolite, inconsiderate, insensitive, rude, tactless, undiplomatic, brief, closemouthed, laconic, reserved, reticent, terse, tight-lipped, earnest, honest, sincere, coarse, crass, crude, low, uncouth, vulgar
    opposite: circuitous, mealymouthed
    near: civil, considerate, courteous, diplomatic, gracious, polite, politic, smooth, suave, tactful, loquacious, talkative, voluble, long-winded, prolix, verbose, courtly, cultivated, gallant, genteel, polished, refined

  2. having an incline approaching the perpendicular

    "the gentle, rolling hills gradually give way to high mountains with abrupt sides"

    similar: bold, precipitous, sheer, steep
    related: perpendicular, plumb, straight, vertical, craggy, hillocky, hilly, mountainous, scarped, angled, canted, cocked, heeled, inclined, listed, slanted, sloped, tilted, tipped
    opposite: easy
    near: gentle, gradual, moderate, soft, even, flat, flush, horizontal, level, plane, smooth, unruffled, unwrinkled

  3. not expected

    "his abrupt reappearance seems to have caught everyone off guard"

    similar: sudden, unanticipated, unexpected, unforeseen, unlooked-for
    related: unintended, unplanned, improbable, unlikely, startling, surprising
    opposite: anticipated, expected, foreseen
    near: predicted, prophesied, unsurprising

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Abrupt

The most common words with a similar meaning to Abrupt:

bluff, blunt, brusque, crusty, curt, downright, short, short-spoken, snippy, unceremonious, bold, precipitous, sheer, steep, sudden, unanticipated, unexpected, unforeseen, unlooked-for

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Abrupt

Words with the opposite meaning of Abrupt:

circuitous, mealymouthed, easy, anticipated, expected, foreseen

Related Words for Abrupt

gruff, rough, snappish, candid, direct, forthright, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, open, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, point-blank, straightforward, straight-out, artless, discourteous, disrespectful, impertinent, impolite, inconsiderate, insensitive, rude, tactless, undiplomatic, brief, closemouthed, laconic, reserved

Near Antonyms of Abrupt

civil, considerate, courteous, diplomatic, gracious, polite, politic, smooth, suave, tactful, loquacious, talkative, voluble, long-winded, prolix, verbose, courtly, cultivated, gallant, genteel, polished, refined, gentle, gradual, moderate, soft, even, flat, flush, horizontal

Word Forms of Abrupt

Derived words: abruptness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Abrupt

borrowed from Latin abruptus "steep, sheer, broken or cut off too short," from past participle of abrumpere "to break, rupture, break off short," from ab- ab- + rumpere "to cause to break or burst," going back to Indo-European *ru-n-p-, nasal present formation from the base *reu̯p- "break, tear" reave

First known use: 1576

Frequently Asked Questions about Abrupt

What does "Abrupt" mean?

"Abrupt" means characterized by or involving action or change without preparation or warning, sudden and unexpected. As an adjective, it is defined as: characterized by or involving action or change without preparation or warning, sudden and unexpected. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Abrupt"?

Other words for "Abrupt" include bluff, blunt, brusque, crusty, curt, downright, short and short-spoken. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Abrupt" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Abrupt"?

There are 86 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Abrupt". Common alternatives include bluff, blunt, brusque, crusty, curt, downright, short, short-spoken, snippy and unceremonious.

What is the opposite of "Abrupt"?

Antonyms of "Abrupt" include circuitous, mealymouthed, easy, anticipated, expected and foreseen. Near antonyms include civil, considerate, courteous and diplomatic.

How do you use "Abrupt" in a sentence?

Examples of "Abrupt" in a sentence: "the policeman's abrupt manner discouraged me from trying to claim that I hadn't seen the red light"; "the gentle, rolling hills gradually give way to high mountains with abrupt sides"; "his abrupt reappearance seems to have caught everyone off guard".

Is "Abrupt" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Abrupt" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Abrupt"?

"Abrupt" is pronounced /ə-ˈbrəpt/.

What is the origin of the word "Abrupt"?

"Abrupt" comes from borrowed from Latin abruptus "steep, sheer, broken or cut off too short," from past participle of abrumpere "to break, rupture, break off short," from ab- ab- + rumpere "to cause to break or burst," going back to Indo-European *ru-n-p-, nasal present formation from the base *reu̯p- "break, tear" reave. First known use: 1576.