as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
the sullen teenager would give only a monosyllabic response to even the friendliest question
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Recent Examples of monosyllabic
Daboll, who typically mutters his way through monosyllabic answers after games, raved about the character and work ethic of his team Sunday.
—
Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Eva, a monosyllabic Finn about my age who dressed in head-to-toe black, seemed uninterested in most of what was happening around her, including me.
—Hazlitt, 3 Dec. 2024
Verstappen was subsequently punished for using the F-word to describe Red Bull’s performances and reacted to his ban by delivering monosyllabic answers during FIA press conferences over the weekend.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
First appearing in 1950, in the original run of Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy is the relaxed, lovable, adventurous, and monosyllabic dog of Sally and Charlie Brown.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for monosyllabic
Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Eva, a monosyllabic Finn about my age who dressed in head-to-toe black, seemed uninterested in most of what was happening around her, including me.
—Hazlitt, 3 Dec. 2024
Verstappen was subsequently punished for using the F-word to describe Red Bull’s performances and reacted to his ban by delivering monosyllabic answers during FIA press conferences over the weekend.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
First appearing in 1950, in the original run of Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy is the relaxed, lovable, adventurous, and monosyllabic dog of Sally and Charlie Brown.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for monosyllabic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monosyllabic
Adjective
-
McVey, 28, has reaped a personal bonus from the concise coaching: he’s been freed up to develop his game by not having to direct traffic as much.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Aug. 2025
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Then draft a concise, personalized cover letter highlighting my strongest fit points.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Young looked sharp throughout the summer, but his brief preseason misgivings carried over to the regular-season opener.—
DIAMOND VENCES,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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The brief and unremarkable tenure of France’s prime minister has come crashing to an end.—
Cole Stangler,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Such rights obviously do not include summary execution at sea.—
Mary Ellen O'Connell,
The Conversation,
4 Sep. 2025
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Not surprisingly, given the risk of summary execution, many had initial doubts.—
Yossi Melman,
ProPublica,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Monosyllabic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monosyllabic. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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