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tersely

[ turs-lee ]

adverb

  1. in an effectively concise manner; succinctly:

    This phenomenally prolific creator of tersely plotted psychological thrillers deserves to be on your bookshelves.

    The ordinance fulfills the tersely and clearly worded language of the city's comprehensive plan.

  2. in an abruptly concise manner; brusquely:

    “Maybe that's my business,” replied the girl tersely as she turned away.



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Other Words From

  • un·terse·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

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Example Sentences

Biden “is a very decent guy, is capable and bright [and] qualified,” Panetta said tersely.

“James is very generous with his comments,” Thurmond later tersely responded.

We have a daughter,” she told him tersely, “and she is hungry.

"I need to speak to my aunt," I said tersely, not wanting to speak to Zardari.

And up there—alone amidst the clouds—Guy Oscard was, as he himself tersely put it, "sticking to it."

Then, as the sacred chronicler tersely and with Homeric brevity tells us, the shepherd "slew both the lion and the bear."

The charges, as worded by Nelson, were two in number, tersely and clearly stated.

They were convincing, informing; tersely—even eloquently—descriptive, with a vein of humor adapted to their audience.

Upon one an inscription was placed which tersely expressed the true state of the case: "Pontifex Colinii necem probat."

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