succinct
suk-SINKT
/səkˈsɪŋkt/
expressed clearly and in few words; concise and directly to the point.
Implies that information has been tightly wrapped or bound together, leaving no loose ends or unnecessary verbiage.
The story behind the word. From Latin subcingere, meaning 'to gird or tuck up from below.' Ancient Romans tucked their long robes up under their waist belts to move swiftly without tripping. A succinct argument is similarly tucked in tight, with no dangling hem of needless clutter.
Word relationships
- concise: Concise emphasizes cutting away wordiness, whereas succinct emphasizes tight, clear packing of facts.
- pithy: Pithy adds a connotation of deep wisdom or memorable wit, while succinct focuses purely on clarity and brevity.
- verbose: Verbose describes using far more words than necessary.
- wordy: Wordy implies cluttered writing that lacks tightness.
Commonly confused with
- terse: Terse can carry a negative edge of abruptness, whereas succinct is always positive and complimentary.
Word family
- succinctly (adverb): in a concise and clear manner
- succinctness (noun): the quality of being clear and brief
Collocations
- succinct summary
- succinct explanation
- succinct prose
- succinct answer
Example sentences
- "The CEO asked for a succinct outline of the merger risks before entering the board meeting." Executive summary
- "His succinct reply left no doubt regarding his stance on the proposed legislation." Literary commentary
Memory hook
Think of 'tucking in your SOCKS IN CT' (succinct) so your pants don't drag; you keep everything tight and tidy. Tucked up tight for maximum impact.
When not to use
Do not use to describe physical objects or time durations; it applies strictly to verbal or written statements.
Fun facts
- Roman soldiers literally 'succinct'ed their tunics before battle to avoid tripping on loose cloth.
Explore more words
lucid, straightforward, forthright, cogent, Verbose, Verbiage
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