The adjective laconic and the adverb laconically refer to a thing or an action that is brief or terse. Do not use laconic and laconically to mean “sad” and “sadly,” respectively.
- Ali was a man of few words, but no one ever got lost following his laconic directions.
- To the question “Why do you wish to study philosophy?” the student replied laconically, “Because.”
The adverb laconically is often replaced by the adverb dryly.
- “You don’t have to tell me again,” she said dryly.
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