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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective laconic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of laconic are compendious, concise, pithy, succinct, summary, and terse. While all these words mean "very brief in statement or expression," laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

Where would compendious be a reasonable alternative to laconic?

Although the words compendious and laconic have much in common, compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment.

a compendious dictionary

When is concise a more appropriate choice than laconic?

The words concise and laconic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative.

a concise description

How is pithy related to other words for laconic?

Pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance.

a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

When might succinct be a better fit than laconic?

The synonyms succinct and laconic are sometimes interchangeable, but succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

When can summary be used instead of laconic?

The meanings of summary and laconic largely overlap; however, summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation.

a summary listing of the year's main events

In what contexts can terse take the place of laconic?

While in some cases nearly identical to laconic, terse implies pointed conciseness.

a terse reply

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of laconic Serving as an introduction to an engaging new artistic voice, the film captures a certain laconic, free-floating malaise and anxiety that are indicative of an emergent generational sensibility. Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025 Copied Share Russia's economic situation 'stable' despite high inflation, Putin says NBC News When asked how Russia's economy remains afloat, Putin gives a characteristically laconic response. NBC News, 19 Dec. 2024 But Snoop Dogg the MC, the laconic voice who defined West Coast gangsta rap in the ’90s, never left us. August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024 Craig revealed that Guadagnino’s tweaks steered him away from attempting to channel the writer’s famous laconic drawl. Damon Wise, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for laconic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laconic
Adjective
  • Her offbeat style and charming eccentricity informed the concise lineup in which high and low were intentionally merged.
    WWD, WWD, 3 Mar. 2025
  • In this comprehensive yet concise history of modern polar exploration, Shubin, a professor of evolutionary biology, mixes urgent scientific findings about glaciers and sea-level rise with prescient geopolitical histories of Arctic territorial disputes.
    The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The writer was directed to a secret Disney warehouse where he was confronted with a Baby Yoda robot that was able to respond to him, including seeming disappointed when the writer was silent.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
  • That's not the only problem with the silent update, though.
    Ryan Whitwam, Ars Technica, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Kurdish people have had a complicated relationship with Erdogan, who courted them during his early years in power by granting them more rights and reversing restrictions on the use of their language, and worked on the brief peace process with the PKK.
    Eyad Kourdi, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The world in brief Expert claims Russia violating rights BANGUI, Central African Republic -- An independent investigator is claiming United Nations peacekeeping forces and Russian mercenaries are carrying out human rights violations in the Central African Republic.
    Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Every Wednesday night, Erika Hernandez's home has an open door—and a reserved seat—for her late son's best friend.
    Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Members of the State Department's diplomatic corps have a reserved section.
    Javier Zarracina, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Organized labor wanted to institute procedural reforms to ensure that officers were given opportunities to correct bad behavior before being let go—no more summary firings.
    Marc J. Dunkelman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Sure enough, the summary destruction of that lonely Russian tank became fodder for the Phoenix drone group’s social media team.
    David Axe, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.
    Daniel Jackson, Allure, 18 July 2017
  • Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.
    Andy Benoit, The MMQB, 10 July 2017
Adjective
  • The commissioner’s restrained view of the FTC’s mission was inconsistent with Roosevelt’s policy agenda, which was the reason the president gave for dismissing him.
    Jacob Sullum, Orange County Register, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Though the Franco-American relationship had cooled by then, Trump and Macron shook hands in a somewhat restrained manner. 2024: The Shake Seen Around The World Last December, Trump, Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Paris ahead of the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
    Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Valeska’s taciturn son Karl (Tom Wlaschiha) regards him with similar suspicion, even as his mother warms to the outsider.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Watching an octogenarian president heavily implied to be a Democrat struggle to form sentences strikes a nerve, but for the most part, De Niro’s take is too taciturn and quietly dignified to inspire much emotion.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Laconic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laconic. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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