abrupt

Language: en

🇺🇸 /əˈbrʌpt/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Sudden and unexpected, often in an unpleasant or surprising way.; Brief to the point of rudeness; curt in speech or manner.; Having a steep or precipitous slope; very steep.; Lacking smoothness or continuity; disconnected or broken in style.; Broken off or truncated, as a plant part that ends suddenly without tapering.
  2. noun
    A sudden, steep slope or precipice (archaic or literary usage).

🔗 Details

Word forms

Comparative: more abrupt, abrupter Superlative: most abrupt, abruptest

Collocations

abrupt changeabrupt endabrupt stopabrupt departureabrupt mannercome to an abrupt halt

Derivatives

abruptlyabruptnessabruption

Synonyms

suddenunexpectedcurtbrusqueterseblunt

Antonyms

gradualpolitecourteousgentle

Commonly confused

bankrupt
EN: 'Bankrupt' relates to financial insolvency; 'abrupt' means sudden or curt, sharing only the '-rupt' Latin root (meaning 'to break').
abruptly
EN: 'Abruptly' is the adverb form used to modify verbs; 'abrupt' is the adjective form used to modify nouns.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the silent 'b' at the beginning and the double 'p'. The word comes from Latin 'abruptus' (broken off), which helps remember the spelling.

💬 Examples

  1. The meeting came to an abrupt end when the fire alarm went off.

  2. She gave an abrupt reply and turned away without another word.

  3. The trail ended at an abrupt cliff overlooking the valley.

  4. The novel's abrupt transitions between chapters confused many readers.

  5. The leaf has an abrupt apex rather than a gradually pointed tip.

  6. The road plunged into the abrupt below the mountain pass.