blunt

[bluhnt]

adjective

blunter, bluntest 

1. having an obtuse, thick, or dull edge or point; rounded; not sharp.

   a blunt pencil.

2. abruptly plain and direct in address or manner, without attempting to be tactful.

   a blunt, ill-timed question.

   Synonyms: impolite, uncivil, rude, rough, gruff, short

3. slow in perception or understanding; obtuse.

   His isolation has made him blunt about the feelings of others.

   Synonyms: stolid, thick, dimwitted

verb (used with object)

blunted, blunting 

1. to make blunt or dull.

   He blunted the knife by using it to cut linoleum.

   Synonyms: hebetate, dull

2. to weaken or impair the force, keenness, or susceptibility of.

   Wine first excites, then blunts the imagination.

verb (used without object)

blunted, blunting 

1. to become blunt or dull.

noun

1. something blunt, as a small-game arrow, a short sewing needle, or a short, thick cigar.

2. Slang.,  a cigar stuffed with marijuana.

blunt

¹

/ blʌnt /

adjective

1. (esp of a knife or blade) lacking sharpness or keenness; dull

2. not having a sharp edge or point

   a blunt instrument

3. (of people, manner of speaking, etc) lacking refinement or subtlety; straightforward and uncomplicated

4. outspoken; direct and to the point

   a blunt Yorkshireman

verb

1. to make less sharp

2. to diminish the sensitivity or perception of; make dull

noun

1. slang,  a cannabis cigarette

Blunt

²

/ blʌnt /

noun

1. Anthony . 1907–83, British art historian and Soviet spy

2. Wilfred Scawen . 1840–1922, British poet, traveller, and anti-imperialist

Other Word Forms

• bluntly adverb
• bluntness noun
• unblunted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blunt¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; perhaps akin to blind

Word History and Origins

Origin of blunt¹

C12: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse blundr dozing, blunda to close one's eyes; see _blunder , _blind

Synonym Study

See dull. Blunt, bluff, brusque, curt characterize manners and speech. Blunt suggests lack of polish and of regard for the feelings of others: blunt and tactless. Bluff implies an unintentional roughness together with so much good-natured heartiness that others rarely take offense: a bluff sea captain. Brusque connotes sharpness and abruptness of speech or manner: a brusque denial. Curt applies especially to disconcertingly concise language: a curt reply. See dull.

Example Sentences

Now the party has run the authority for a little over four months and is embarking on the process of setting next year's budget – and there's a blunt assessment from the council leader.

From BBC

Enough to keep me upright, not enough to blunt my palate.

From Salon

There’s no comedy equivalent of Jean Smart’s hilariously blunt mom in this story; instead, Ingelsby trades that tart energy for a transcendent joy accentuating the disheveled humanity of people who could be any of us.

From Salon

Netanyahu's Defence Minister Israel Katz has repeatedly taken to social media in recent days, posting videos of high-rise buildings in Gaza City being blown-up with the blunt message that this was just the start.

From BBC

“I lose it sometimes. I cry my eyes out, for sure. I feel the full emotional impact of it, in slow motion. . . . There’s no blunting it for me.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brusque 
• candid 
• curt 
• explicit 
• forthright 
• matter-of-fact 
• outspoken 
• rude 
• trenchant 

When To Use

What is a basic definition of blunt?

Blunt describes something as being not sharp or as being straightforward. Blunt is commonly used as a slang noun to mean a marijuana cigarette. Blunt has several other senses as an adjective, verb, and noun.If something is blunt, it has a flat surface or is rounded. Blunt objects lack points and will slam, prod, or smash rather than pierce, puncture, or stab. In this sense, blunt is the opposite of sharp. For example, a sword is a sharp weapon that has a fine point that can pierce or has a fine edge that can slice. On the other hand, a baseball bat is a blunt object that is rounded with a flat surface. You can’t cut or slice anything with a baseball bat.Real-life examples: Sledgehammers, baseball bats, and tubes are all blunt objects.Used in a sentence: He smacked the nails with the blunt end of the hammer. In this same sense, blunt means to make something not sharp.Used in a sentence: She blunted the knife by trying to use it to cut plaster. Blunt can also mean something is straightforward or direct. Usually, this sense refers to comments or statements that are abrupt. For example, saying that your girlfriend’s new dress is ugly is a blunt statement because it directly states an opinion. As you might guess, this sense of blunt is often used interchangeably with words such as rude, curt, and explicit. The adverb bluntly most often refers to this sense of blunt.Used in a sentence: “I really hate that guy,” Shirley said bluntly. In slang, a blunt is a rolled cigarette or cigar that contains marijuana.Used in a sentence: I saw him smoking a blunt out back on the porch.