Brusque
Rude or abrupt in manner or speech; blunt and often impolite.
adjectiveBrusque
Rude or abrupt in manner or speech; blunt and often impolite.
adjectiveImagine This
Picture a busy receptionist who answers every question with a short, dry nod and a single-word reply, hardly acknowledging the caller's needs.
Sounds Like
BRUSK (pronounced /brʌsk/ or /bruːsk/), with the final 'que' sounding like a hard 'k'.
Looks Like
Looks like 'brusk' (an alternate spelling) or a word ending in -que, hinting at its French origin.
Remember This
Brusque comes from French brusque (abrupt, rough), ultimately linked to Italian brusco meaning rough or harsh; the -que ending is pronounced like a hard 'k' sound.
Other Forms
Connect With
curt, blunt, abrupt, gruff, terse
Note
Do not confuse brusque with brisk. Brisk implies liveliness or efficiency in a positive way, while brusque implies abrupt rudeness. The adverb form is brusquely; the noun form is brusqueness.