SUMMARY Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'summary' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of summary are compendious , concise , laconic , pithy , succinct , and terse . While all these words mean "very brief in statement or expression," summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation. // a summary listing of the year's main events

Q: When would 'compendious' be a good substitute for 'summary'?

The words compendious and summary are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment. // a compendious dictionary

Q: When is 'concise' a more appropriate choice than 'summary'?

In some situations, the words concise and summary are roughly equivalent. However, concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative. // a concise description

Q: When is it sensible to use 'laconic' instead of 'summary'?

While in some cases nearly identical to summary , laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious. // an aloof and laconic stranger

Q: How does the word 'pithy' relate to other synonyms for 'summary'?

Pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance. // a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

Q: When might 'succinct' be a better fit than 'summary'?

The meanings of succinct and summary largely overlap; however, succinct implies the greatest possible compression. // a succinct letter of resignation

Q: When can 'terse' be used instead of 'summary'?

The words terse and summary can be used in similar contexts, but terse implies pointed conciseness. // a terse reply

summary 1 of 2

noun

ˈsə-mə-rē

Definition of summary

as in outline

a short statement of the main points many book reports choose to begin with a summary of the book

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

summary

2 of 2

adjective

ˈsə-mə-rē

as in concise

marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning obviously a one-volume encyclopedia can offer only a very summary account of the American Civil War

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective summary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of summary are compendious, concise, laconic, pithy, succinct, and terse. While all these words mean "very brief in statement or expression," summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation.

a summary listing of the year's main events

When would compendious be a good substitute for summary?

The words compendious and summary are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment.

a compendious dictionary

When is concise a more appropriate choice than summary?

In some situations, the words concise and summary are roughly equivalent. However, concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative.

a concise description

When is it sensible to use laconic instead of summary?

While in some cases nearly identical to summary, laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

How does the word pithy relate to other synonyms for summary?

Pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance.

a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

When might succinct be a better fit than summary?

The meanings of succinct and summary largely overlap; however, succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

When can terse be used instead of summary?

The words terse and summary can be used in similar contexts, but terse implies pointed conciseness.

a terse reply

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of summary

Noun

This summary does an injustice to the originality and the sophistication of Tregenza’s way with narrative form. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026 Gemini has wormed its way into virtually every Google product and service, powering email organization in Gmail, document summary in Drive, and much more. — ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The young man risked beatings that would end in summary execution for sneaking in extra food to prisoners who were supposed to be the empire’s work-and-starve-to-death slaves. — Charles Pellegrino, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025 Human Rights Watch said M23’s efforts to consolidate control of Goma have involved possible war crimes, including the summary execution of civilians in February. — Michela Wrong, NBC news, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for summary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for summary

Noun

In outline, these are elegant Bond-villain machines for faceless, leaderless, pervasive espionage and assassination, the stuff of paranoid nightmares and stochastic violence.

— Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Finally, Angel Martinez captured this gorgeous shot of the eclipsed Sturgeon Moon setting behind a cluster of skyscrapers in Madrid, Spain, as atmospheric effects distorted the true color and outline of the lunar disk.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of outline

Adjective

In a statement, Labrador told the Idaho Statesman that the law clearly states both offices are responsible for writing clear and concise explanations of voter choices on ballot initiatives.

— Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 27 Aug. 2026
Longer messages Many providers would suggest clear, concise messages from their patients.

— Elise Haulund, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of concise

Noun

The Buckeye Institute – along with a number of other conservative groups that have filed supportive briefs – want the justices to also revisit a 2005 decision that affirmed a broad interpretation of Congress’s power to regulate interstate commerce.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Bauermeister filed a brief a week ago arguing that the full amount of the settlement paid by Campbell Hall should be subtracted from any award the jury decides Scott must pay to Dylan.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of brief

Noun

The stage was set for the Fourth, whose five movements add up to a summa of Bartók’s art, by turns tenaciously labored, sinuously swirling, nocturnally eerie, pizzicato-punchy, and flat-out wild.

— Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Alas, Dostoevsky — all of whose major characters clearly embody aspects of his own extremist personality — died in 1881, shortly after completing this summa of his most deeply felt themes and obsessions.

— Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2023

Definition of summa

Noun

How Somatic Sleep Protocols Work Somatic sleep protocols are body-first routines built to move the nervous system out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-digest before bed.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Here’s a quick digest of recent Star-Telegram coverage across the area.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of digest

Noun

Billionaires can volunteer large sums of cash without being forced to do so.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
The law helps level the playing field somewhat by letting candidates make their cases to voters who watch broadcast TV without needing to raise exorbitant sums of money.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of sum

Noun

Hence, retail traders will gain a cheaper and more precise way to speculate on crude, but production, consumption, inventories and geopolitics will remain the dominant forces setting prices.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Long maintenance periods can reduce the number of submarines available for deployments even when the vessels remain counted in the fleet’s overall inventory.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of inventory

Noun

To deal with her grief, Mila has taken up the odd hobby of writing obituaries for living people, per the book’s synopsis.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
According to the synopsis, the film was shot at night on Tel Aviv rooftops and focuses on the killings of Palestinian civilians.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of synopsis

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summarizing

summary

summate

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“Summary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/summary. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of summary

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adjective

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