laconic
6 synonyms and 3 antonyms for laconic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Using very few words, in a way that seems deliberate and often dry.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
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'.
