brusque

In a sentence.

1. 01

   His brusque reply sounded harsher than he meant it to.

2. 02

   The doctor was capable but brusque with nervous patients.

Where it came from.

Brusque came into English from French. Its earlier Italian relative brusco could describe something rough or sharp; that edge survives in the way a brusque answer lands.

Why it’s interesting.

A brusque person may be efficient rather than angry. The word describes how their manner feels to someone else.