Curt means abruptly brief in speech or manner, often to the point of seeming rude or unfriendly. When someone gives a curt response, they use as few words as possible and their tone suggests they don't want to talk. If you ask your older brother how his day was and he snaps back, “Fine,” without looking up from his phone, that's a curt answer.

The word describes communication that feels clipped or cut short. A teacher might give curt instructions when frustrated: “Sit down. Be quiet. Open your books.” Each sentence feels sharp and impatient. Compare that to a friendly response with the same information: “Could everyone please take their seats? Let's settle down and turn to page forty-three.” Same message, completely different feeling.

Being curt usually happens when someone is annoyed, rushed, or wants to end a conversation quickly. Sometimes people don't realize they're being curt when they're stressed or distracted. A curt nod, a curt dismissal, or a curt email all share that quality of being brief in a way that feels cold rather than efficient.