First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
succinct
adjective suc·cinct \(ˌ)sək-ˈsiŋ(k)t, sə-ˈsiŋ(k)t\
: using few words to state or express an idea
Full Definition of SUCCINCT
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2
: marked by compact precise expression without wasted words <a succinct description>
— suc·cinct·ly \-ˈsiŋ(k)t-lē, -ˈsiŋ-klē\ adverb
— suc·cinct·ness \-ˈsiŋt-nəs, -ˈsiŋk-nəs\ noun
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Examples of SUCCINCT
- Other experts are in the business of selling their research. Alan Greenspan made his reputation and career as a partner of Townsend-Greenspan, whose clients were a who's who of old Wall Street. Successful research firms can command substantial fees, and buyers demand clear, succinct and unequivocal analysis and predictions. —Zachary Karabell, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2009
- As Esther Benbassa recounts in her dry but impressively succinct and informative history, they arrived in the Roman province of Gaul in the first centuries of the common era, and soon found themselves trod underfoot by the ascendant Christian church. —David A. Bell, New Republic, 28 Feb. 2000
- In his first work of popular science, English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking proves himself to be a master of vivid clarity. His title, “ A Brief History of Time,” is understated even by British standards; in 198 pages Hawking manages no less than a succinct history of cosmology, a concise explanation of general relativity and its intersection with quantum mechanics … —Richard Rhodes, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 1988
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Origin of SUCCINCT
Middle English, from Latin succinctus having one's clothes gathered up by a belt, tightly wrapped, concise, from sub- + cinctus, past participle of cingere to gird — more at cincture
Related to SUCCINCT
- Synonyms
- aphoristic, apothegmatic, brief, capsule, compact, compendious, crisp, curt, elliptical (or elliptic), epigrammatic, laconic, monosyllabic, pithy, sententious, concise, summary, telegraphic, terse, thumbnail
- Antonyms
- circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy
Synonym Discussion of SUCCINCT
concise, terse, succinct, laconic, summary, pithy, compendious mean very brief in statement or expression. concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative <a concise description>. terse implies pointed conciseness <a terse reply>. succinct implies the greatest possible compression <a succinct letter of resignation>. laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious <an aloof and laconic stranger>. summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation <a summary listing of the year's main events>. pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance <a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners>. compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment <a compendious dictionary>.
Rhymes with SUCCINCT
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