Brusque means abrupt and brief in speech or manner, often to the point of seeming rude. A brusque person gets straight to the point without pleasantries or extra words, and their directness can feel cold or unfriendly even when they don't mean it that way.

Imagine asking your teacher a question and getting a sharp, one-word answer without any explanation or eye contact. That's brusque. Or picture a doctor who barely looks up from her clipboard, says “Take this medicine twice daily,” and walks out before you can ask questions. Her manner is efficient but feels harsh.

Someone might be brusque because they're busy, stressed, or just naturally direct. A brusque reply isn't necessarily meant to hurt feelings, but it often does because it lacks warmth.

Not everyone who's brief is brusque. A friend who says “Can't talk now, late for practice!” is being quick but not brusque. But if that same friend snaps “What?” when you approach them, barely letting you speak, that crosses into brusque territory. The difference lies in tone and respect: being brusque means forgetting that how you say something matters as much as what you say.