laconic

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ləˈkɑnɪk/ UK /ləˈkɒnɪk/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
using very few words; terse to the point of brusqueness

His laconic reply was simply "No."

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · using very few words; terse... terse concise brief succinct curt pithy brusque

Opposites

verbose wordy loquacious garrulous prolix

Word family

Forms laconically

Derived forms laconicallylaconicism

Related forms laconism

Simplified etymology

Laconic derives from Laconia, the region of ancient Greece inhabited by the Spartans, who were famed for terse speech as well as an austere way of life. Since the 16th century, the word has meant “using very few words.”

Etymology

From Latin laconicus, from Ancient Greek Lakōnikos ('Laconian, Spartan'), referring to the Spartans' reputation for terse, pointed speech.

Λακωνικός Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# laconic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ləˈkɑnɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ləˈkɒnɪk/

## Meanings
1. using very few words; terse to the point of brusqueness

## Examples
- His laconic reply was simply "No."

## Synonyms
- terse
- concise
- brief
- succinct
- curt
- pithy
- brusque

## Antonyms
- verbose
- wordy
- loquacious
- garrulous
- prolix

## Derived Forms
- laconically
- laconicism

## Related Forms
- laconism

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: Λακωνικός

## Etymology
From Latin laconicus, from Ancient Greek Lakōnikos ('Laconian, Spartan'), referring to the Spartans' reputation for terse, pointed speech.

## AI Etymology
Laconic comes from Latin laconicus, from Ancient Greek Lakōnikos ('Laconian, Spartan'), referring to the Spartans' reputation for terse, pointed speech. The etymological trail includes Ancient Greek Λακωνικός. As an adjective, laconic means using very few words; terse to the point of brusqueness. The same family is visible in derived forms such as laconically and laconicism and related forms such as laconism.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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