WordValelaconic
using very few words
In more detail
1. (adjective) using very few words; brief and concise
2. (adjective) tending to say little; not talkative
Examples
- 1. He gave a laconic reply of just two words.
- 2. The laconic old farmer rarely spoke more than a few sentences.
How to use laconic
Laconic describes both speech and writing that is remarkably sparing in words, often with an air of deliberate brevity or wit. It carries a more literary or formal tone than everyday words like 'brief' and often implies a certain elegance or sharpness to the conciseness. Use it when brevity seems intentional or stylistically significant rather than merely practical.
Common phrases
- laconic response
- laconic style
- laconic wit
- laconic remark
- characteristically laconic
- laconic manner
Synonyms
brief · concise · terse · succinct · taciturn
Opposites
verbose · loquacious · wordy
Word family
laconically (adverb) · laconicism (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use 'laconic' to mean simply 'quiet' or 'shy,' but it specifically refers to the economy of words used when someone does speak or write, not to silence or shyness.
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