1
: marked by compact precise expression without wasted words
a succinct description
2
archaic
a
: being girded
b
: close-fitting
succinctly
(ˌ)sək-ˈsiŋ(k)t-lē How to pronounce succinct (audio)
-ˈsiŋ-klē
sə-
adverb
succinctness
(ˌ)sək-ˈsiŋt-nəs How to pronounce succinct (audio)
-ˈsiŋk-nəs
sə-
noun

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A Succinct History of Succinct

The history of succinct might not be short, but it's a cinch to remember. Succinct traces to Latin succinctus ("tightly wrapped, concise"), which comes from the verb cingere ("to gird"), the word that gave us cincture and cinch. In its earliest uses succinct meant "confined" or "girded up," and, as such, it was often used in reference to garments encircled by a band. Eventually, succinct was extended to the realm of insects, where it meant "supported by a band of silk around the middle" (as in "the succinct pupa of a butterfly"). Later, the word was applied to writings. A "succinct" piece of writing is "compressed" or "compact" and uses as few words as possible.

Choose the Right Synonym for succinct

concise, terse, succinct, laconic, summary, pithy, compendious mean very brief in statement or expression.

concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative.

a concise description

terse implies pointed conciseness.

a terse reply

succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation.

a summary listing of the year's main events

pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance.

a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment.

a compendious dictionary

Examples of succinct in a Sentence

Other experts are in the business of selling their research. Alan Greenspan made his reputation and career as a partner of Townsend-Greenspan, whose clients were a who's who of old Wall Street. Successful research firms can command substantial fees, and buyers demand clear, succinct and unequivocal analysis and predictions. Zachary Karabell, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2009
As Esther Benbassa recounts in her dry but impressively succinct and informative history, they arrived in the Roman province of Gaul in the first centuries of the common era, and soon found themselves trod underfoot by the ascendant Christian church. David A. Bell, New Republic, 28 Feb. 2000
In his first work of popular science, English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking proves himself to be a master of vivid clarity. His title, " A Brief History of Time," is understated even by British standards; in 198 pages Hawking manages no less than a succinct history of cosmology, a concise explanation of general relativity and its intersection with quantum mechanics … Richard Rhodes, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 1988
He gave a succinct overview of the expansion project. a pocket guide that provides succinct explanations for rules of grammar and punctuation
Recent Examples on the Web Ask me three clarifying questions about this audience, one by one, then provide a succinct list of their 5 biggest fears. Jodie Cook, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Asked how the losing is affecting him, Eklund was succinct. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024 Tracee Ellis Ross arrived in a succinct brown fur coat look that was a favorite of ours. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 4 Feb. 2024 The kitchen prepares a succinct tasting menu, priced at $110 per person, the length and pace of which feels designed for Angelenos. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2024 Also a Widow Dear Also: Thank you for your succinct and perfect response. Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2024 Dear Also: Thank you for your succinct and perfect response. Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024 Find more on Angel Studios at their website, the very succinct angel.com. Republic Live, known for producing Canada’s Boots and Hearts Music Festival, is launching a new management division, RLive. Marc Schneider, Billboard, 26 Jan. 2024 The menu is very food-truck-like, meaning succinct and singularly focused. Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'succinct.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin succinctus having one's clothes gathered up by a belt, tightly wrapped, concise, from sub- + cinctus, past participle of cingere to gird — more at cincture

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of succinct was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near succinct

Cite this Entry

“Succinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/succinct. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

succinct

adjective
: marked by short concise expression without wasted words
succinctly adverb
succinctness noun

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