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Synonym Chooser

How is the word abrupt different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of abrupt are precipitous, sheer, and steep. While all these words mean "having an incline approaching the perpendicular," abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

a beach with an abrupt drop-off

When could precipitous be used to replace abrupt?

The words precipitous and abrupt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

the river winds through a precipitous gorge

When is sheer a more appropriate choice than abrupt?

The words sheer and abrupt can be used in similar contexts, but sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers

When would steep be a good substitute for abrupt?

The synonyms steep and abrupt are sometimes interchangeable, but steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

a steep hill
a steep dive

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abrupt Such changes will mark an abrupt shift in the status quo but are crucial to creating a stable economic environment and signaling the new government’s readiness to pursue meaningful reforms. Karam Shaar, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2024 Tucker, who graduated from TSU in 1980 and has served on its board of trustees since April, takes on the role after the abrupt resignation of Ronald Johnson. Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024 Speak with your healthcare provider before stopping treatment, as abrupt discontinuation can cause withdrawal symptoms. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 19 Dec. 2024 Drones tend to hover, make abrupt directional changes, or move erratically, owing to their small size and agility. Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abrupt 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrupt
Adjective
  • This massage gun is equipped with seven different massage head attachments to provide pin-point precision, blunt pressure, and everything in between.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 11 Jan. 2025
  • To be somewhat blunt about it: Rasa has notes akin to a milder Ricola cough drop.
    Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appétit, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Projections were giving the BJP fewer than 200 seats, a steep drop from its previous total of 303, and a result that would spell the end of its parliamentary majority.
    Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
  • The shoreline is mostly rugged and rocky, with pines marching up steep, often-foggy slopes.
    Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • There are even grief counselors and social workers who specialize in sudden loss.
    Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Fans were devastated by news of Morrison’s sudden and unexpected death at age 27.
    Makena Gera, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • In short, alcohol affects almost every organ and tissue in the body, including the brain, heart, lungs, liver, stomach, and more.
    Cassie Shortsleeve, SELF, 3 Jan. 2025
  • On the short spring night of May 11, 1943, Szmul Zygielbojm—a Jewish Polish exile in despair—sat down and typed three letters in his flat, overlooking Porchester Square, near Paddington Station, in London.
    Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Anomaly Detection: Advanced ML techniques enable AIOps to detect unusual activity patterns such as unauthorized API calls or unexpected resource usage, providing real-time alerts for potential threats.
    Venkatadri Marella, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
  • Inside the roughly $400,000 luxury car, authorities found an unexpected passenger.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The first episode shows Dr. Robby leading a group of young medical students and residents on a tour of their new workplace, their faces just as much a mixture of terror and wonder as Carter’s was when his gruff mentor Peter Benton led him around County General on his first day.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 Jan. 2025
  • The beloved coach who has a sweetly gruff persona also joked about how he’s fared as a patient.
    Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Smith gave another curt reply when asked about the play.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Throughout the year, companies put aging products out to pasture and billion-dollar deals ended with curt blog posts about focusing their efforts (and dollars) elsewhere.
    Chloe Albanesius, PCMAG, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Four years later, following her Curb Your Enthusiasm self-parody comeback episode earlier this year, Loughlin now stars as the brusque Lieutenant Bishop in On Call, marking her return to television in a recurring role.
    Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2024
  • And a lot of Nico’s superior-being-observing-insects vibe can be traced back to his bizarre accent, the highs and lows of it, its melodic drone and brusque verve.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 July 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Abrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrupt. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

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