1
a
: sparing of words : terse
wrote curt precise sentences
b
: marked by rude or peremptory (see peremptory sense 3) shortness : brusque
a curt refusal
In a curt voice, he ordered the server to bring him a glass of water.
2
: shortened in linear dimension
curtly
adverb
curtness
noun
Examples of curt in a Sentence
He gave only a curt reply to the question.
she was offended by the curt reply to her well-meaning question
Recent Examples on the Web
Less than a day later, a curt follow-up email landed in many of their inboxes informing them that they weren’t being let go after all.
—
Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
Asked to assess his own performance afterward, Howard was curt.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The answers Nora gets back from Azad’s father and brother are dismissive, curt, and even threatening.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2025
These and a few other basic elements recur throughout Martinů’s œuvre: curt themes, darting rhythms, tangy harmonies, glittering textures.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curt
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Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
Asked to assess his own performance afterward, Howard was curt.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The answers Nora gets back from Azad’s father and brother are dismissive, curt, and even threatening.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2025
These and a few other basic elements recur throughout Martinů’s œuvre: curt themes, darting rhythms, tangy harmonies, glittering textures.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curt
Cite this Entry
“Curt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curt. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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