monosyllabic

adjective mono·syl·lab·ic \ˌmä-nə-sə-ˈla-bik\

: having only one syllable : made up of words that have only one syllable

: saying very little or responding with one-syllable words

Full Definition of MONOSYLLABIC

: consisting of one syllable or of monosyllables

: using or speaking only monosyllables

: conspicuously brief in answering or commenting : terse

— mono·syl·lab·i·cal·ly \-bi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— mono·syl·la·bic·i·ty \-ˌsi-lə-ˈbi-sə-tē\ noun

See monosyllabic defined for English-language learners

probably from French monosyllabique, from monosyllabe

First Known Use: 1766

Synonyms: aphoristic, apothegmatic, brief, capsule, compact, compendious, crisp, curt, elliptical (or elliptic), epigrammatic, laconic, concise, pithy, sententious, succinct, summary, telegraphic, terse, thumbnail

Antonyms: circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy

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