curtness

IPA/ˈkɜːtnəs/
IPA/ˈkɜːrtnəs/

curtness — noun

1. a way of speaking that uses so few words and such a quick tone that it comes acr

1.nounB2
Definition

a way of speaking that uses so few words and such a quick tone that it comes across as unfriendly or rude

Example

Eleni was surprised by the curtness of the waiter's reply.

collocation: curtness of [someone's] reply

João's curtness on the phone made his mother worry.

Common collocations
  • curtness of [someone's] reply
  • curtness of [someone's] tone
  • curtness of [someone's] voice
Synonyms
  • abruptness

    focuses on suddenness and lack of warning, not necessarily rudeness

  • brusqueness

    suggests roughness or blunt force, stronger than curtness

  • shortness

    milder; a short reply may be efficient rather than rude

Usage Note

Describes the quality of a specific reply or interaction, not a permanent personality trait. Often used with 'of' to name the source (the curtness of his tone).

Common Mistakes

The waiter's rudeness upset us when he dropped the plate.
The waiter's curtness upset us when he answered with just one word.
'curtness' is rudeness that comes from being too brief in speech, not from any rude act.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Curtness, abruptness, brusqueness, gruffness, and shortness all describe brief ways of communicating, but they differ in tone and cause. Curtness implies rudeness through brevity — someone giving a one-word answer when more was expected. Abruptness focuses on suddenness and lack of warning; an abrupt reply startles you because it comes without the usual social lead-in. Brusqueness adds a layer of roughness or blunt force — it is curtness with an edge of aggression. Gruffness is about vocal quality: a deep, rough, unfriendly tone that may still use normal-length sentences. Shortness is the mildest and most neutral — a short reply may simply be efficient rather than rude. If you say 'Fine' and walk away, that is curtness; if you snap 'Fine!' and slam the door, that is brusqueness.

abruptness ↗brusqueness ↗gruffnessshortness

Common collocations

Phrases

  • with characteristic curtness
  • surprised by the curtness

Prepositions

  • curtness of
  • curtness towards
  • with curtness

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed from the adjective 'curt' (meaning rudely brief) plus the noun suffix '-ness'. 'Curt' entered English in the 17th century from French 'court', which came from Latin 'curtus' meaning 'cut short' or 'shortened'. The original physical sense of something literally cut short gradually shifted to describe speech that is cut too short to be polite.