curt
KURT
/kɜːrt/
rudely brief or abrupt in speech or manner.
Carries a distinctly negative connotation; implies social coldness, dismissal, or anger.
The story behind the word. From Latin curtus, meaning 'docked or cut short.' In Middle English, it described physical objects that were shortened or clipped. By the late 16th century, it shifted to describe social behavior—speech docked so short that it lacks basic courtesy.
Word relationships
- snappish: Snappish emphasizes irritable barking tones, while curt emphasizes brief, cold words.
- gruff: Gruff describes a rough voice or harsh exterior that may hide warmth, whereas curt is colder.
- cordial: Cordial implies warm, gracious friendliness.
- expansive: Expansive speech is warm, detailed, and unhurried.
Commonly confused with
- short: Short can be neutral (e.g., 'a short answer'), but curt always carries a negative social tone.
Word family
- curtly (adverb): in an abruptly rude manner
- curtness (noun): abrupt, rude shortness of speech
Collocations
- curt response
- curt nod
- curt refusal
- curt dismissal
Example sentences
- "The manager gave a curt refusal to the customer's request for an unreceipted refund." Customer service interaction
- "Her curt nod indicated that she was far from ready to forgive his mistake." Interpersonal drama
Memory hook
Kurt was so CURT that he CUT off the conversation without saying goodbye. Docked so short it bites.
When not to use
Do not use to compliment someone's efficient writing style; curt is almost always an insult.
Fun facts
- In medieval times, a 'curt dog' was a working dog whose tail was docked to mark it as exempt from royal hunting taxes.
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