Which phrase has a more negative connotation? a concise response or a terse response

The phrase “terse response” has a more negative connotation.

Explanation

  • Concise describes speech or writing that is brief but complete and well-chosen — it implies clarity, efficiency, and thoughtfulness.
  • Terse also means brief, but often carries the implication of brusqueness, curt rudeness, or lack of warmth; it suggests the speaker may be annoyed or unfriendly.

Examples

  • Concise: “She gave a concise summary of the experiment.” (positive/neutral)
  • Terse: “He gave a terse reply and walked away.” (negative—implies abruptness)

Notes

  • Context and tone matter: a terse message can be neutral in very formal, time-critical situations, but most readers interpret it as colder or curt.
  • Synonyms: concise = succinct, economical; terse = curt, brusque, abrupt.

So, if you want to praise brevity, use concise; if you describe brevity that feels unfriendly, terse is the usual choice.

Related

Researchers investigated the possible beneficial effect on heart health of drinking black tea and whether adding milk to tea reduces any possible benefit. Twenty-four volunteers were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Every day for a month, participants in group 1 drank two cups of hot black tea without milk, participants in group 2 drank two cups of hot black tea with milk, and participants in group 3 drank two cups of hot water but no tea. At the end of the month, the researchers measured the change in each of the participants’ heart health.