abrupt

[ uh-bruhpt ]

adjective

1. sudden or unexpected:

   an abrupt departure.

   Synonyms: sharp, quick

   Antonyms: gradual

2. curt or brusque in speech, manner, etc.:

   an abrupt reply.

   Synonyms: blunt, hasty, hurried, short

   Antonyms: courteous, patient, deliberate

3. terminating or changing suddenly:

   an abrupt turn in a road.

   Synonyms: sharp, quick

   Antonyms: gradual

4. having many sudden changes from one subject to another; lacking in continuity or smoothness:

   an abrupt writing style.

   Synonyms: uneven, broken, discontinuous

5. steep; precipitous:

   an abrupt descent.

6. Botany. truncate ( def 4 ).

abrupt

/ əˈbrʌpt /

adjective

1. sudden; unexpected
2. brusque or brief in speech, manner, etc; curt
3. (of a style of writing or speaking) making sharp transitions from one subject to another; disconnected
4. precipitous; steep
5. botany shaped as though a part has been cut off; truncate
6. geology (of strata) cropping out suddenly

Derived Forms

• abˈruptly, adverb
• abˈruptness, noun

Other Words From

• ab·rupt·ly adverb
• ab·rupt·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abrupt¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin abruptus “broken off”(past participle of abrumpere ), equivalent to ab- ab- + -rup- “break” + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of abrupt¹

C16: from Latin abruptus broken off, from ab- ¹+ rumpere to break

Synonym Study

See sudden.

Example Sentences

The ethics committee had been preparing to vote on the report's release before Gaetz's abrupt resignation from the House, which came just after Trump's nomination, the New York Times reported.

From BBC

The ethics panel was supposed to last week release the product of a months-long investigation into Gaetz and his alleged improprieties, but the lawmaker’s abrupt resignation complicated that: The committee only has jurisdiction over current members of Congress, a fact Trump-Gaetz allies are citing to justify keeping the report’s findings secret.

From Salon

Considering that the nine warmest years in the modern temperature record coincided with the abrupt freshwater decline, Rodell said, "We don't think this is a coincidence, and it could be a harbinger of what's to come."

From Science Daily

While there are reasons to suspect that the abrupt drop in freshwater is largely due to global warming, it can be difficult to definitively link the two, said Susanna Werth, a hydrologist and remote sensing scientist at Virginia Tech, who was not affiliated with the study.

From Science Daily

And in truth, the judge’s abrupt pivot on this issue, while shameless and cynical, is tactically wise.

From Slate

Related Words

• hasty
• hurried
• precipitous
• quick
• sudden
• surprising
• unanticipated
• unexpected
• unforeseen