Definitions

gnomic

[noh-mik, nom-ik] / ˈnoʊ mɪk, ˈnɒm ɪk /

ADJECTIVE

terse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

brusque concise cryptic curt elliptical incisive laconic pithy precise succinct trenchant

WEAK

abrupt aphoristic boiled down breviloquent clear-cut clipped close compact compendiary compendious condensed crisp cut to the bone epigrammatic exact in a nutshell lean neat pointed sententious short and sweet snappy summary taut to the point

Antonyms

STRONGEST

gentle kind lengthy long-winded nice polite verbose wordy

WEAK

prolix

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

gnomic

Alonso is a difficult person to read, and he can be gnomic when he speaks.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Wittgenstein’s central thesis is bold and bracing, while his gnomic aphorisms invite multiple, contradictory interpretations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 18, 2025

Less successful is Mark Rylance as a strange tech titan named Peter Isherwell, an eminence grise of prominent white teeth, Julian Assange-like hair and irritatingly gnomic pronouncements.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 7, 2021

Each juxtaposes a gnomic phrase with a stark black and white image, but at this scale, they scan more as private entreaties than global dictates — rave fliers for young agitators.

From New York Times ● Nov. 11, 2021

I wasn’t sure what to make of this gnomic utterance.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

gnomic

Example Sentences

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