Abruptness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ə-ˈbrəpt/

Meaning & Definition of Abruptness

Abruptness (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

Abruptness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in bluntness, shortness

    similar: bluntness, brusqueness, curtness, shortness, brevity, briefness, compactness, conciseness, concision, crispness, pithiness, sententiousness, succinctness, terseness
    opposite: diffuseness, long-windedness, prolixity, verbosity, wordiness, periphrasis, pleonasm, redundancy, repetitiousness, repetitiveness, tautology

Related Entry: Abrupt (adjective)

Abrupt is a different word from Abruptness. The synonyms below are for abrupt, not for abruptness.

  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 Abruptness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Abruptness:

bluntness, brusqueness, curtness, shortness, brevity, briefness, compactness, conciseness, concision, crispness, pithiness, sententiousness, succinctness, terseness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Abruptness

Words with the opposite meaning of Abruptness:

diffuseness, long-windedness, prolixity, verbosity, wordiness, periphrasis, pleonasm, redundancy, repetitiousness, repetitiveness, tautology

Word Forms of Abruptness

Derived words: abruptness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Abruptness

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 Abruptness

What does "Abruptness" mean?

"Abruptness" means characterized by or involving action or change without preparation or warning, sudden and unexpected. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: characterized by or involving action or change without preparation or warning, sudden and unexpected.

What is another word for "Abruptness"?

Other words for "Abruptness" include bluntness, brusqueness, curtness, shortness, brevity, briefness, compactness and conciseness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Abruptness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Abruptness"?

There are 14 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Abruptness". Common alternatives include bluntness, brusqueness, curtness, shortness, brevity, briefness, compactness, conciseness, concision and crispness.

What is the opposite of "Abruptness"?

Antonyms of "Abruptness" include diffuseness, long-windedness, prolixity, verbosity, wordiness, periphrasis, pleonasm and redundancy.

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

"Abruptness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Abruptness"?

"Abruptness" is pronounced /ə-ˈbrəpt/.

What is the origin of the word "Abruptness"?

"Abruptness" 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.

What is another word for "Abruptness" meaning "as in bluntness, shortness"?

When "Abruptness" (noun) means as in bluntness, shortness, synonyms include bluntness, brusqueness, curtness, shortness, brevity and briefness. Opposites in this sense include diffuseness, long-windedness, prolixity and verbosity.