Definition of abrupt
//came to an abrupt stop an abrupt turn an abrupt decision to retire
//She has an abrupt manner. an abrupt reply
//an abrupt transition
especially : involving a sudden steep rise or drop
//abrupt hills a high abrupt bank bounded the stream
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Other Words from abrupt
\ nounSynonyms & Antonyms for abrupt
Synonyms
- bluff,
- blunt,
- brusque
- (also brusk),
- crusty,
- curt,
- downright,
- short,
- short-spoken,
- snippy,
- unceremonious
Antonyms
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Examples of abrupt in a Sentence
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abrupt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for abrupt
abrupt
adjective \Kids Definition of abrupt
//The meeting came to an abrupt end.
//an abrupt drop
//an abrupt reply
Choose the Right Synonym for dainty
precipitate, headlong, abrupt, impetuous, sudden mean showing undue haste or unexpectedness. precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.
//
the army's precipitate withdrawal headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.
//
a headlong flight from arrest abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.
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an abrupt refusal impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.
//
an impetuous lover proposing marriage sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.
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flew into a sudden rage
steep, abrupt, precipitous, sheer mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular. steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.
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a steep hill
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a steep dive abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.
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a beach with an abrupt drop-off precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.
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the river winds through a precipitous gorge sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.
//sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers
Did You Know
We’ll break it to you gently: abrupt derives from abruptus, the past participle of the Latin verb abrumpere, meaning "to break off." Abrumpere combines the prefix ab- with rumpere, which means "break" and which forms the basis for several other words in English that suggest a kind of breaking, such as interrupt, rupture, and bankrupt. Whether being used to describe a style of speaking that seems rudely short (as in "gave an abrupt answer"), something with a severe rise or drop ("abrupt climate change"), or something that seems rash and unprecipitated ("made the abrupt decision to quit college"), abrupt, which first appeared in English in the 16th century, implies a kind of jarring unexpectedness that catches people off guard.
//Renzi announced his departure with a Facebook post on Tuesday morning, after explaining the abrupt move in an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica.
— Washington Post, "Renzi splits Italy’s Democrats, shaking govt coalition," 18 Sep. 2019
//Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee said of the abrupt injury spike.
— Rachel Swan, SFChronicle.com, "Surge of critical injuries on SF’s streets mirrors spike in fatalities," 16 Sep. 2019
//There's just little time here to develop satisfying conclusions to their narrative arcs, so we're instead left with abrupt little happily-ever-after crumbs.
— Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Transparent: Musicale Finale': TV Review," 16 Sep. 2019
//The ending — just a cut-off of this harmony — seemed abrupt.
— San Diego Union-Tribune, "Review: World premiere and Beethoven on a boat disappoint in Hausmann Quartet concert," 16 Sep. 2019
//An abrupt American pull-out would make matters worse, dooming Afghanistan to an even bloodier civil war and possibly to an eventual Taliban victory.
— The Economist, "America will have to resume negotiations with the Taliban eventually," 14 Sep. 2019
//Suspect products The bust comes as federal agencies and authorities in 33 states—including Wisconsin— investigate an abrupt rash of severe lung illnesses that have been linked to vaping.
— Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Black-market THC-vape operation busted in Wisconsin, police say," 12 Sep. 2019
//Granted, in a pre-internet age, fans had less of a platform to gripe, but unlike some of the more abrupt recent transitions, such as depicting Thor as a woman, Storm’s progression seemed wholly organic.
— Oliver Staley, Quartz, "Storm is comics’ overlooked groundbreaking superhero," 11 Sep. 2019
//The season stood as easily the worst of Petrino's coaching career — the 2007 abbreviated and abrupt Atlanta Falcons departure aside.
— Steve Brawner, The Courier-Journal, "Ousted Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino says he wants to coach again," 9 Sep. 2019
1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
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" — more at reave
Synonyms & Antonyms of abrupt
- the policeman's abrupt manner discouraged me from trying to claim that I hadn't seen the red light
Synonyms for abrupt
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Antonyms for abrupt
- the gentle, rolling hills gradually give way to high mountains with abrupt sides
Synonyms for abrupt
Words Related to abrupt
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Antonyms for abrupt
- his abrupt reappearance seems to have caught everyone off guard
Synonyms for abrupt
Words Related to abrupt
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Antonyms for abrupt
abrupt
adjectiveKids Definition of abrupt
//The meeting came to an abrupt end.
//an abrupt drop
//an abrupt reply
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Time Traveler for abrupt
The first known use of abrupt was in 1565
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