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laconic

3 antonyms for laconic — opposites grouped by meaning.

Adjective — Using very few words, in a way that seems deliberate and often dry.

Antonyms

verbose long-winded garrulous

How to use laconic

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

laconic reply laconic style laconic wit laconic humour

Formal or literary; common in describing characters and public figures.

Etymology

From Greek Lakōnikos, 'of Laconia', the region of Sparta, whose people were famous for their extremely terse speech.

Full origin of laconic →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between laconic and taciturn?
Taciturn describes a person who does not talk much at all. Laconic describes the style of what someone does say — short, dry and often pointed. A laconic person may speak readily but always in few words.
Where does laconic come from?
It comes from Laconia, the Spartan homeland. Ancient Greek writers recorded the Spartans' habit of answering at maximum brevity, and the region's name became the word for that style.
Is being laconic a compliment?
Usually mildly so. It suggests economy and self-possession rather than rudeness, though in the wrong context it can shade into 'curt'.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.