abrupt

/əˈbrʌpt/

Say it: uh-BRUPT

1. adjective Happening or changing suddenly and without warning.
The driver made an abrupt turn to avoid the pothole.
2. adjective Speaking or acting in a short, direct, and often unfriendly way.
His abrupt reply made it clear he didn't want to discuss the matter further.
3. adjective Having a very steep, almost vertical, slope.
The trail ended at an abrupt cliff overlooking the valley.

📖 Seen in the wild

The speaker made an abrupt change of topic, surprising the audience.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ abrupt in a sentence

The meeting came to an abrupt end when the fire alarm sounded.
She was known for her abrupt manner, but she was fair and effective.
After years of slow decline, the company's abrupt collapse surprised the market.
The music shifted from a gentle melody to an abrupt, jarring rhythm.
His abrupt departure from the project left the team in a difficult position.
The coastal plain gives way to an abrupt escarpment a few miles inland.
I was startled by his abrupt question in the middle of my presentation.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

sudden curt brusque blunt hasty precipitous terse unexpected

sudden · focuses on the quickness and lack of warning, without the jarring quality.

curt · specifically describes speech or a reply that is rudely brief.

brusque · implies a rough, blunt, and impatient manner in speech or action.

blunt · refers to speech that is direct and frank, often without trying to be polite.

Opposites: gradual, smooth, leisurely, courteous, gentle

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'abrupt' comes directly from the Latin 'abruptus', meaning 'broken off'. This is the past participle of the verb 'abrumpere', which combines 'ab-' (off, away) and 'rumpere' (to break). This origin perfectly captures all modern senses: a sudden stop is a break in motion, a curt reply is a break in conversation, and a steep cliff is a sharp break in the landscape.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

abrupt changeabrupt stopabrupt mannerabrupt departureabrupt endingabrupt transition

The core idea of 'abrupt' is a sharp, unexpected break. This applies equally to actions ('an abrupt halt'), communication ('an abrupt dismissal'), and physical forms ('an abrupt cliff'). While it often implies rudeness when describing a person's manner, it is neutral in other contexts. Don't use it for things that are merely quick; 'abrupt' suggests a jarring or disconnected quality that 'fast' or 'sudden' might not.

Word family: abruptly, abruptness

💬 Quick answers

What does abrupt mean?

Abrupt describes something that is sudden and unexpected. It can refer to a sudden change or stop, a person's curt and unfriendly manner, or a steep physical feature like a cliff.

What is the difference between abrupt and sudden?

While both mean unexpected, 'sudden' simply describes the speed and lack of warning. 'Abrupt' often adds a sense of being jarring, disconnected, or even rude, as if something has been broken off.

Is being abrupt a bad thing?

When describing a person's behavior, it usually has a negative connotation, implying rudeness. When describing an event, like an 'abrupt stop,' it is neutral and simply means sudden.

What is an example of an abrupt manner?

An example is responding to a detailed question with a single word and then walking away. This cuts the conversation short in a jarring and unfriendly way.

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