abrupt 
abrupt (ə brupt′)
adjective
- coming, happening, or ending suddenly; sudden; unexpected
- curt or gruff in behavior or speech; brusque
- very steep: said as of a precipice
- jumping from topic to topic without proper transitions; jerky and disconnected
- Geol. having sudden variations in composition, form, etc.: said esp. of adjacent rock formations
Etymology: L abruptus, pp. of abrumpere, to break off < ab-, off + rumpere, to break: see rupture
abrupt
modif.
Said of things, usually landscape
steep, precipitate, sheer, precipitous, sudden, sharp, angular, craggy, unexpected, uneven, rough, rugged, irregular, jagged, perpendicular, straight up, straight down, without a break, vertical, headlong, zigzag, broken, uphill, downhill, falling, bluffy. Antonyms
level*, flat, horizontal. Said of people or acts of people
rough, blunt, short, terse, brusque, unceremonious, sudden, hasty, hurried, precipitate, impetuous, uncivil, gruff, impolite, curt, bluff, ungracious, rude, crude, uncomplaisant, downright, outspoken, direct, unexpected, to the point, matter-of-fact, discourteous, sharp, snippy*; see also blunt 2.Antonyms
polite*, ceremonious, gracious.
abrupt implies a sharp degree of inclination in a surface breaking off suddenly from the level an abrupt bank at the river's edge; steep suggests such sharpness of rise or slope as to make ascent or descent very difficult a steep hill; precipitous suggests the sudden and headlong drop of a precipice a precipitous height; sheer applies to that which is perpendicular, or almost so, and unbroken throughout its length cliffs falling sheer to the sea, a sheer drop from the sixth floor See also syn. study at sudden.
Adjective complement with noun phrase
- make: Nothing from the original tapes was omitted; one or two quick fades were done to make cuts less abrupt.
Modifies a noun
- halt: Beyond the Town Hall, Annan comes to an abrupt halt on the eastern bank of the River Annan.
- discontinuation: There is no evidence of a rebound effect after abrupt discontinuation of therapy.
- onset: Minimal criteria for stroke included abrupt onset of a localized neurological deficit.
- withdrawal: It is important, however, to caution against abrupt withdrawal.
- cessation: A gradual reduction in the dose rather than abrupt cessation is recommended wherever possible.
- ending: The abrupt ending to the season prompted Adam Pearson to fork out £ 800,000 on new players.
Modifying Another Word
- rather: Jennifer stops Brian from making a rather abrupt exit to check the stock.
- somewhat: The head should be massive, a short muzzle with a somewhat abrupt stop and fairly prominent brow.
- too: I cannot allow myself to hope again; the drop into failure is too abrupt.
- very: In 'The Lesson ' , the young boy hears of the news of his fathers death in a very abrupt way.
- so: She was so rude, so abrupt asking me if i was over my panic attacks.
- little: I was slightly disappointed with the ending as I thought it was a little abrupt, but overall I enjoyed it.
Used with adjective complement
- seem: Weaknesses The change between sessions 1-5 to sessions 6-10 can seem rather abrupt.
- sound: I am sorry to sound so abrupt in this e mail, but clearly something is seriously amiss at the Chartwell Gift Shop.
- appear: The same tendency explains why he sometimes appeared abrupt in manner, otherwise inexplicable in one of his character.
Preposition: in
- onset: The suicidal ideation was abrupt in onset and was associated with a feeling of ' crashing ' .
Preposition: with
Browse dictionary entries near abrupt
- ‹ abrogate
- ‹ abroad
- ‹ abroach
- ‹ abridgment
- ‹ abridge
- ‹ abreast
- ‹ abreaction
- ‹ abrazo
- ‹ abrasive
- ‹ abrasion
- abruption ›
- Abruzzi ›
- abs ›
- abs- ›
- Absalom ›
- abscess ›
- abscise ›
- abscisic acid ›
- abscissa ›
- abscission ›
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