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Verbose vs. Terse — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Verbose and Terse

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Definitions

Verbose

Using or containing a great and usually an excessive number of words; wordy.

Terse

Sparing in the use of words; abrupt
A terse statement

Verbose

Containing or using more words than necessary; long-winded, wordy. 17

Terse

Brief and to the point; effectively concise
A terse one-word answer.

Verbose

(computing) Producing detailed output for diagnostic purposes.
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Terse

(by extension) Of speech or style: brief, concise, to the point.

Verbose

Abounding in words; using or containing more words than are necessary; tedious by a multiplicity of words; prolix; wordy; as, a verbose speaker; a verbose argument.
Too verbose in their way of speaking.

Terse

(by extension) Of manner or speech: abruptly or brusquely short; curt.

Verbose

Using or containing too many words;
Long-winded (or windy) speakers
Verbose and ineffective instructional methods
Newspapers of the day printed long wordy editorials
Proceedings were delayed by wordy disputes

Terse

(obsolete) Burnished, polished; fine, smooth; neat, spruce.
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Terse

Appearing as if rubbed or wiped off; rubbed; smooth; polished.
Many stones, . . . although terse and smooth, have not this power attractive.

Terse

Refined; accomplished; - said of persons.

Terse

Elegantly concise; free of superfluous words; polished to smoothness; as, terse language; a terse style.
Terse, luminous, and dignified eloquence.
A poet, too, was there, whose verseWas tender, musical, and terse.
"In eight terse lines has Phædrus told(So frugal were the bards of old)A tale of goats; and closed with grace,Plan, moral, all, in that short space."

Terse

Brief and to the point; effectively cut short;
A crisp retort
A response so curt as to be almost rude
The laconic reply; `yes'
Short and terse and easy to understand

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