Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective succinct contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of succinct are compendious, concise, laconic, pithy, summary, and terse. While all these words mean "very brief in statement or expression," succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

Where would compendious be a reasonable alternative to succinct?

The meanings of compendious and succinct largely overlap; however, compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment.

a compendious dictionary

When is it sensible to use concise instead of succinct?

In some situations, the words concise and succinct are roughly equivalent. However, concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative.

a concise description

When might laconic be a better fit than succinct?

The words laconic and succinct are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

How is pithy related to other words for succinct?

Pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance.

a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

When could summary be used to replace succinct?

While in some cases nearly identical to succinct, summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation.

a summary listing of the year's main events

When can terse be used instead of succinct?

While the synonyms terse and succinct are close in meaning, terse implies pointed conciseness.

a terse reply

Example 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 succinct Your ability to stay focused, succinct and mentally agile in high-pressure situations. Sue Reynolds-Frost, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 The portion of her answer on 60 Minutes was more succinct, which allows time for other subjects in a wide-ranging 21-minute-long segment. Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 2 July 2025 Be respectful, succinct and remember that speech is personal and some habits are hard to break. R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025 The Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations was succinct in summing up the state of the club’s pitching, which has once again been whittled by injuries. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for succinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for succinct
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
  • Then draft a concise, personalized cover letter highlighting my strongest fit points.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Our brief taste of fall weather gets interrupted today with some rain and thunderstorm chances, though most of the precipitation should land in the morning hours.
    Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • In the future, organizations may explore integrating brief breathwork exercises into virtual meetings, including breathing resets during long work sessions and developing digital platforms that offer customizable breathwork routines.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Not surprisingly, given the risk of summary execution, many had initial doubts.
    Yossi Melman, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The young man risked beatings that would end in summary execution for sneaking in extra food to prisoners who were supposed to be the empire’s work-and-starve-to-death slaves.
    Charles Pellegrino, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Succinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/succinct. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on succinct

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