Laconic
adjective /ləˈkɒnɪk/ — Using as few words as possible — and meaning all of them.
Definition
Using very few words; brief and concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious.
Beyond the definition
Laconic speech carries authority. When someone who rarely speaks says something, you listen differently. The Spartans were famous for it — when Philip of Macedon threatened them, they replied with a single word: 'If.'
Origin & history
From Greek Lakonikos — of Laconia (Sparta). The Spartans were known for their brief, powerful way of speaking.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
His laconic reply — 'noted' — ended the debate more effectively than a speech.
She had a laconic style that made every sentence count.
The most powerful emails are often laconic. Two sentences. Send.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Laconic” when the meaning fits your context: Using very few words; brief and concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious.
Synonyms
Antonyms
verbose, loquacious, wordy
Related words
Laconic vs terse
Laconic describes brevity with weight and power — speech so compressed it carries authority, in the Spartan tradition. Terse also means brief, but it often carries a negative edge: curt, almost rude in its shortness. A laconic reply lands deliberately; a terse reply can feel like a door shutting. Laconic is an admirable quality; terse is frequently a complaint.
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
Philip II of Macedon sent a threat to Sparta: if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city.
The Spartans sent back one word: If.
The threat was not carried out. Two thousand years later the letter still teaches more about power and communication than most books written on either subject. The people with the least to prove require the fewest words to prove it.
Questions about this word
What does "Laconic" mean?
Laconic is adjective meaning: Using as few words as possible — and meaning all of them.. Using very few words; brief and concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious.
Which words express “words or writing that moves you”?
Laconic — Using as few words as possible — and meaning all of them.
Where does the word "Laconic" come from?
From Greek Lakonikos — of Laconia (Sparta). The Spartans were known for their brief, powerful way of speaking.