Meanings
plural abruptnesses
- uncountableusuallyThe state of being abrupt or brokenFirst known use First attested in the early 17ᵗʰ century.
- uncountableusuallySuddenness; unceremonious haste or vehemence.First known use First attested in the early 17ᵗʰ century.
So be neither diffuse with damp and slippery words nor blunt the edge of your discourse by abruptness of style. Study in particular the purest period of style, that those who move only to Ciceronian rhythm call you not a Celt.
1853-6, Thomas Browne, To a friend intending a difficult workSynonyms: spontaneity
Synonyms & antonyms
nounSuddenness; unceremonious haste or vehemence.
More synonyms by meaning
nounan abrupt discourteous manner
nounthe property possessed by a slope that is very steep
nounthe quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinabrumpō
- Latinabruptus
- Englishabrupt
- Englishabruptness
Translations
Bulgarian стръмност, рязкост
- стръмност (strămnost)state of being abrupt
- рязкост (rjazkost)suddenness
- внезапност (vnezapnost)suddenness
- безцеремонност (bezceremonnost)suddenness
Dutch abruptheid, plotselinge
- abruptheidstate of being abrupt
- plotselingestate of being abrupt
- onverwachtheidstate of being abrupt
- kortgebondenheidsuddenness
- bruuskheidsuddenness
Esperanto abrupteco
- abruptecostate of being abrupt
Finnish äkillisyys, äkillisyys
- äkillisyysstate of being abrupt
- äkillisyyssuddenness
Cite this entry
abruptness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abruptness
“abruptness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abruptness. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abruptness,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abruptness.
Source: abruptness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.