brusquebrusque /bruːsk, brʊsk $ brʌsk/ adjective 
Word Origin
a brusque manner—brusquely adverb—brusqueness noun [uncountable]
Word OriginWORD ORIGINbrusque
ExamplesOrigin:
1600-1700 French, Italian brusco, from Medieval Latin bruscus type of bush with sharp pointsEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Her secretary was a little brusque on the phone.
- In public he appears brusque and dismissive, but he is in fact a very caring person.
- Mathison's brusque style tends to irritate colleagues.
- He had ranged ahead, limiting himself to brusque commands and a variety of signals.
- He limped over to the leg-press machine, his air brusque and withdrawn.
- He went out thinking that, behind all her brusque banter, she was a kindly little soul.
- It was just his usual brusque, impetuous way of speaking.
- Normally so courteous and tidy, if Loi was fishing, he became brusque and rude, oblivious to his surroundings.
- Off steps a brusque and bristling figure, carrying a kitbag and casual in a crew-neck sweater.
- They are both logical and just a little brusque with me.
Longman Language Activatorwhen someone speaks to you in a rude way, using very few words► curt
using very few words, in a way that seems rude SYN abrupt: replying in very few words in a way that seems rude: · She answered their questions with a curt "No comment".· Polly was curt and businesslike with her clients.· Her story was sent back with a curt rejection note.
► terse a terse message, reply, statement etc uses very few words and is deliberately intended to make people stop speaking to you or asking you questions: · The terse announcement gave no reason for Harris's resignation.· "We're in the process of negotiations," Russo said in a terse statement to reporters.
► brusque using few words and saying directly what you think, because that is the way you usually speak, even though it often seems rude to other people: · Mathison's brusque style tends to irritate colleagues.· In public he appears brusque and dismissive, but he is in fact a very caring person.
► dismissive treating someone's ideas, suggestions, or problems as if they are not at all important or serious, especially by dealing with them in very few words and then changing the subject: · She was very dismissive when I tried to tell her about my problems at work.dismissive of: · Teenagers who have jobs can be quite dismissive of their peers who don't.
► be short with to speak to someone in a rude way, using very few words, especially because you are angry with them: · I'm sorry if I was short with you, but I was worried about my interview.· She was very short with me. I wonder if I've offended her in some way.
► abrupt seeming rude and unfriendly because you answer questions or talk to someone in a quick, direct way, especially because you do not want to waste time in friendly conversation: · "It won't work," Mitchell says in his abrupt, no-nonsense style.· His new boss was abrupt and didn't seem interested in his proposals.
a brusque manner—brusquely adverb—brusqueness noun [uncountable]