Practice Brusque with Flashcards, Spelling and Quizzes

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What does brusque mean?

Abrupt, curt, or short in speech, often indicating impatience, irritation, or rudeness.
"The customer service representative's brusque attitude left the caller feeling frustrated."

Detailed Meaning of Brusque

It is characterized by a lack of warmth or friendliness, and may be perceived as dismissive or unfriendly. An example of a sentence using the word brusque would be "The customer service representative was so brusque that it made the customer angry and frustrated."

Example Sentences for Brusque

1. His brusque manner made him seem unfriendly to those who didn't know him well.
2. The receptionist’s brusque tone made me feel unwelcome at the office.
3. She gave a brusque nod in response to my greeting, without saying a word.
4. The waiter’s brusque service left us feeling rushed and unappreciated.
5. Sometimes, people mistake her brusque way of speaking for rudeness, but she's actually quite kind.
6. The doctor's brusque demeanor did not inspire confidence in his patients.

Origin and Etymology of Brusque

The adjective 'brusque' is believed to have originated from the Italian word 'brusco,' which means 'rough' or 'abrupt.' This term is thought to be connected to the Old Provencal word 'brusc,' meaning 'rough' or 'crude.' Over time, 'brusque' made its way into the English language, describing a person or manner of speech that is abrupt, curt, or short, often indicating impatience, irritation, or rudeness. The etymology of 'brusque' underscores the idea of roughness and abruptness in communication, highlighting the sharp and direct nature of someone's speech or behavior when described as brusque.

Quiz Question - Test Your Understanding

Find the correct meaning of the adjective brusque:

polite

curt

courteous

genial

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Correct!

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More Usage Examples of Brusque

1. His brusque reply to my question made me hesitant to ask for further clarification.
2. The teacher was brusque in her feedback, leaving little room for encouragement.
3. When under stress, her emails tended to become brusque and to-the-point.
4. The brusque dismissal of my proposal made it clear that they were not interested.
5. In an emergency, a brusque command can be necessary to ensure immediate action.
6. Her brusque rejection of the invitation made me regret extending it in the first place.
7. His consistently brusque attitude created workplace tension.
8. She offered only a brusque, one-word answer.
9. The brusque tone of his voice conveyed annoyance.
10. He's infamous for his brusque and abrasive communication.
11. Her brusque mannerisms often isolate her from others.
12. The brusque dismissal of their proposal left them dejected.
13. He barely acknowledged their presence with a brusque nod.
14. Brusque messages can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts.
15. The brusque chef's demeanor negatively impacted customer satisfaction.
16. Avoiding his brusque behavior is crucial for team harmony.
17. Brusque feedback without constructive criticism demotivates employees.
18. The brusque approach to customer service damaged client relationships.
19. She conveyed her frustration with brusque and impatient instructions.
20. The brusque welcome from the hostess made guests uncomfortable.
21. His initially brusque exterior hides a genuinely caring personality.
22. Brusque behavior can tarnish one's professional reputation.
23. The manager's consistently brusque style intimidated and demoralized staff.
24. He's actively working on being less brusque in his interactions.
25. Her brusque comments left emotional scars that took time to heal.
26. Brusque responses hinder effective and empathetic communication.