SHORT-SPOKEN Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

short-spoken

adjective

ˈshȯrt-ˌspō-kən

Definition of short-spoken

as in blunt

being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner don't expect much information or friendly chitchat from the short-spoken villagers

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for short-spoken

Adjective

The veteran broadcaster, who revolutionized radio with his blunt conversations and is well-regarded for his in-depth celebrity interviews with A-list stars, first made the jump to SiriusXM in 2006.

— Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Round or blunt toes were better suited to long days working the ranch.

— Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of blunt

Adjective

West Suburban closed in March, after the hospital’s CEO said problems with the billing systems left the hospital short on cash.

— Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Messages of greater than 100 words were more likely to receive a quick reply than short messages of 4-25 words.

— Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of short

Adjective

Too often, the forceful arguments of Rankine and her peers—and the electric anger of the George Floyd protests—were used by the opportunistic and aggrieved to justify abrupt changes to unprepared institutions.

— Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
The White House’s abrupt decision last week to ease tariffs on 300,000 metric tons — more than 660 million pounds — of foreign beef imports has infuriated American cattle ranchers and congressional Republicans alike.

— Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of abrupt

Adjective

Bob Hoskins’s gruff detective, Eddie Valiant, sees them as a sometimes-dangerous nuisance, while conniving film-studio power players see them as moneymakers, and the rest of humanity sees them as shades in between.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Scott, 88, shares the character's worldview, despite the filmmaker’s notoriously gruff exterior.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of gruff

Adjective

Strahan has been outspoken about his kids in the past, sharing in 2025 that his daughter Isabella Strahan had been diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor, two years prior.

— Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Davis has long been an outspoken advocate for diversity and Black representation, especially in the entertainment industry.

— Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of outspoken

Adjective

After three minutes of routine and relatively curt responses, Redick was asked about the difficulty of closing a team out in a playoff series.

— Law Murray, New York Times, 1 May 2026
There are at least three potential James Bonds among these actors, and each displays his own brand of curt, strapping charm.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026

Definition of curt

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Short-spoken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short-spoken. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of short-spoken

adjective

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