1
as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
a brief but crucial admonition to keep quiet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in short
not lasting for a considerable time
fortunately, the meeting was brief
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3
as in flash
lasting only for a short time
a brief flash of light
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1
as in summary
a short statement of the main points
a one-page brief of the intelligence report
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2
as in mission
a specific task with which a person or group is charged
the soldiers' brief was to secure the village from enemy attacks
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1
as in to inform
to give information to
the lieutenant briefed his superior officers on the state of the enemy's fortifications
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2
as in to summarize
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report)
his duties include briefing intelligence reports for the president
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1
as in shortness
the condition of being short
the briefness of the instructions rendered them less than helpful
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2
as in concision
the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning
in this case the briefness of the essay is not a drawback because it says all that needs to be said and does so with eloquence
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brief
Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 17 Apr. 2025
Gold derives the bulk of its long-term returns from remarkably brief periods of explosive growth.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025
To him, a chatbot that has analyzed zillions of SAT-style questions, legal briefs, and lines of code is not smart so much as well prepared—for the SAT, a law-school exam, advanced coding problems, whatever.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
David Ubben, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Tellingly, however, Harris’ offer to visit Wisconsin was rejected as a potential distraction during early voting, according to people briefed on the discussions.
—New York Times, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brief
Adjective
While the Supreme Court’s order was brief, the Justice Department has argued in court filings that judges do not have the authority to issue nationwide injunctions and that states that sued against the plan lack legal standing.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 17 Apr. 2025
Gold derives the bulk of its long-term returns from remarkably brief periods of explosive growth.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
These cheeky briefs are crafted from a quick-drying fabric that soaks up excess moisture.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025
To him, a chatbot that has analyzed zillions of SAT-style questions, legal briefs, and lines of code is not smart so much as well prepared—for the SAT, a law-school exam, advanced coding problems, whatever.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
Tennessee officials were frustrated with the ongoing negotiations, said a source briefed on those conversations, but were hopeful for an amicable resolution.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Tellingly, however, Harris’ offer to visit Wisconsin was rejected as a potential distraction during early voting, according to people briefed on the discussions.
—New York Times, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brief
Adjective
-
Refine your key points to be clear and concise—no rambling monologues.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
As the celebration on the floor dispersed to make way for the second national semifinal, Clayton could be seen greeting every teammate and staffer who offered a handshakes or a hug with a concise message.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
After a short ceremony, the church will open to the public from: Wednesday: 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday: 7 a.m. to midnight Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Letters to the editor are usually short and to the point.—
Elizabeth Keifer,
Hartford Courant,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — this guy is the real deal.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
The Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2025
-
The German figures come a day before the scheduled release of flash inflation data for the euro area, which will be closely watched by investors for guidance on the odds of another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank.—
Sophie Kiderlin,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2024
Verb
-
By staying informed and adaptable, banks can responsibly explore stablecoin applications, positioning themselves for longer-term relevance and success in an increasingly digital financial world.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Our customers seek to be informed, guided and cared for.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The sentencing memorandum, filed in U.S. District Court on April 2 and reviewed by OL, summarizes a massive trafficking network primarily coordinate by Waldrop, who worked with wildlife importers to obtain species from all over the world.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is nothing flashy, but this budget laptop features an Intel AI Boost to streamline your user experience by bringing a digital helper who will answer questions and summarize documents to your fingertips.—
Jade Chung-Lee,
PC Magazine,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Ukraine is investigating more than 150,000 possible war crimes committed by Russia, including the summary execution of prisoners and targeted aerial strikes against civilians.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
-
He is accused of acting as the de facto leader of the Davao Death Squad, a group that was responsible for summary executions and the murder or disappearance of more than 1,000 people in and around the city.—
Lisandro Claudio,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Even with Hollywood’s diminished state in China, the film business is one sector where the U.S. maintains a sizable trade surplus with its geopolitical rival, as Chinese films, despite their enormous earnings in the home market, have made little headway with mainstream North American moviegoers.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
-
For starters, the clear formula comes in a cute little bottle that looks more like a serum than tanning drops.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine starting Saturday, citing humanitarian reasons.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Despite the temporary reprieve from the higher tariff rates, the markets are still uncertain about the future of the levies.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brief. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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