1
Brief response
A reply limited to only a few words, often closing further discussion.
Example
Her laconic reply ended the discussion immediately.
laconic
/ləˈkɒnɪk/ · luh-KON-ikadjective
Using very few words.
Use laconic for speech or writing that communicates with striking brevity, sometimes appearing restrained, blunt, or difficult to interpret.
What laconic Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Compressed style
A habitual manner of speaking or writing with exceptional brevity.
Example
Known for his laconic style, the judge delivered a ruling of only three sentences.
3
Restrained expression
Communicating emotion or judgement indirectly through minimal language.
Example
His laconic note—'Not convinced'—revealed more disapproval than its length suggested.
Use laconic Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
Her laconic reply ended the discussion immediately.
The editor admired the report's laconic style but requested one paragraph of explanation.
Asked whether the experiment had succeeded, she gave the laconic answer, 'Barely.'
Precision Matters
Laconic overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
laconic
vs.Stresses unusually few words and may suggest reserve or bluntness.
concise
Positively stresses efficient expression without unnecessary detail.
laconic
vs.Can be neutral or admiring depending on context.
terse
Often suggests abruptness, impatience, or discourtesy.
laconic
vs.Describes the brevity of what a person says or writes.
reticent
Describes reluctance to speak or reveal thoughts.
laconic
vs.Concerns length, not the number of possible meanings.
ambiguous
Concerns openness to multiple interpretations.
Test laconic in Context
The response communicates a judgement in only three words.
1
Asked to summarise the committee's forty-page report, the chair offered the ___ reply, 'Useful, but incomplete.'