curtness

"You're the man who got landed today," he said in a deep voice and with an effect of curtness.

Whatever the reason, curtness cuts across all boundaries - political, social and religious.

She stood there a moment longer, surprised and hurt by the sudden curtness in his voice.

And a few others acknowledged his passing with notable curtness.

You must also forgive my seeming curtness, and for the same reasons.

The curtness of her response was a surprise even to her.

And the curtness of his words is indication enough that he really doesn't want to talk to me much.

I could not keep the curtness from my tone.

All the curtness was gone from the commander's voice.

She felt a momentary surprise at the curtness of his reply.

Some foreigners may be cowed by the tourist board's curtness.

She added, suddenly conscious of the curtness, "Nothing, thank you.

She recalled Kathy's curtness last night on the phone.

This time there was no mistaking the clipped curtness in his voice.

The citizen lieutenant seemed not to notice any curtness and turned to lead the way to the lifts.

He looked so genuinely concerned that Madeleine regretted her earlier curtness.

She ignored the curtness of his answer, recognizing that he used it to hide an old hurt.

He heard the roughness in his voice and hoped she would mistake it for curtness.

Basset did nothing to soften the curtness of his refusal.

A woman without airs, she is emotionally direct to the point of curtness, but never cruel.

She knew it instinctively in spite of the curtness of his words.

The quick shifts from concern to curtness to mischief were confusing.

He did not resent that; he understood the reason for her curtness.

Sabine was asked with a curtness that threatened to remove a layer of skin.

Cathy seemed lost in her thoughts, surprising Ash when she made no protest at his curtness.