Laconic
Sparta's reputation lives on in text messages that could have been emails but were not.
Learn This WordMeaning
Using very few words; concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious.
Memory trick
Laconic = Spartan-style, Sparta (Laconia) was famous for short, blunt speech.
Examples
His laconic reply made it hard to tell what he really thought.
The coach was laconic: “Again.”
She gave a laconic summary and left the room.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin Laconicus, from Greek Lakonikos "of Laconia (Sparta)," associated with Spartan brevity.
Usage Notes
Often implies an edge: terse, minimal, sometimes intentionally withholding.
Real-life contexts
Describe tone: "He’s a bit laconic, don’t read too much into short replies."
Use in writing: "A laconic style can be powerful when used sparingly."
Use for humor: "My feedback is laconic: ship it."
Common Mistakes
Laconic is not always a compliment; it can suggest curt communication.
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Part of Speech
adjective
Difficulty
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