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View synonyms for laconic

laconic

[ luh-kon-ik ]

adjective

  1. using few words; expressing much in few words; concise:

    a laconic reply.

    Synonyms: succinct, terse, pithy, brief

    Antonyms: voluble



laconic

/ ləˈkɒnɪk /

adjective

  1. (of a person's speech) using few words; terse


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Derived Forms

  • laˈconically, adverb

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Other Words From

  • la·coni·cal·ly adverb
  • unla·conic adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of laconic1

1580–90; < Latin Lacōnicus < Greek Lakōnikós Laconian, equivalent to Lákōn a Laconian + -ikos -ic

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Word History and Origins

Origin of laconic1

C16: via Latin from Greek Lakōnikos, from Lakōn Laconian, Spartan; referring to the Spartans' terseness of speech

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Example Sentences

She is laconic, matter of fact, and frequently speaks in “life is a journey”-type metaphors and aphorisms—all part of her charm.

J.J. Cale, 74 No one has ever pared a song down to its essentials better than this laconic Oklahoma composer and performer.

In an unfinished high-rise in the middle of Caracas, a laconic, cynical "doctor" operates on his new patient.

He pulls the reader in with his unpretentious, laconic style, and with his refusal to shy away from acknowledging his own flaws.

My take is somewhat more laconic: this just doesn't matter much.

Ramsey was laconic in response to inquiries upon this subject.

When I heard this laconic declaration of love, I began to laugh immoderately, tore myself from her grasp, and rushed away.

Yet I had spoken with quite an unwonted degree of warmth, when contrasted with my ordinary laconic way of expressing myself.

More than once she had left him with a laconic "Bye-bye," and he had spent a miserable evening before an unsympathetic fire.

"Otherwise I should have preferred starving to coming here," answered the laconic neophyte.

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Laconianlaconical