Curtness

Curtness is a noun describing a brusque, abrupt, or rudely concise manner of speaking or acting. It signifies a lack of elaboration or politeness, often conveying impatience, disdain, or a desire to end a conversation quickly. curtness can manifest in terse replies, dismissive gestures, or a general lack of warmth in interactions. The impact of curtness often hinges on the context; while it might be acceptable in urgent situations, it can be perceived as offensive or hurtful in casual settings. It is a noticeable departure from civil discourse, and the degree of curtness can vary from a slight brevity to outright rudeness.

Curtness meaning with examples

• The shopkeeper's curtness, as he simply pointed towards the desired item without a word, left the customer feeling unwelcome and ignored. His short answer was, "Over there." The curtness made the patron feel as though they were bothering him, making the purchase an unpleasant experience, which could affect the store in the long run.
• Following the heated argument, her curtness in response to his apology felt like a final severing of their ties. She merely replied "fine" and turned away, leaving the weight of the conversation unresolved with no intention of opening further dialogue between the pair.
• The detective's curtness during the interrogation created an atmosphere of intimidation, the short, clipped questions designed to unnerve the suspect and elicit the truth. It was as though the detective, through this curtness, was trying to unbalance the suspect.
• His curtness towards the aspiring musician during the audition process was devastating, delivering a harsh, single-sentence critique that crushed their confidence. This style of delivering criticism, where the critic only gives one single line for the auditionee, is highly unorthodox and insensitive.