bluntly

[bluhnt-lee]

adverb

1. starkly and directly, with no attempt to be tactful or diplomatic.

   I always had a tendency to act in ways that are politically unwise—to bluntly say what I consider the truth.

   To put it bluntly, that is a very poor piece of policy-making.

2. in a way that involves no subtlety or discernment.

   It was one of those things that's so bluntly obvious, none of them really had to say anything about it.

   The three-strikes law has been applied too broadly, too bluntly, with some people serving life sentences for relatively minor crimes.

3. without any sharp points or edges.

   It has downy leaves and stems and small white flowers blooming in June, followed by bluntly triangular seedpods.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bluntly¹

blunt ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

By early September, it was enough for Roberts to cast doubt on Sasaki’s return, saying bluntly that “the performance, the stuff hasn’t been there.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Companies including Ford, JPMorgan Chase and Amazon have bluntly predicted job losses associated with AI.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She opposes Israel’s war in Gaza, bluntly describing it as a “genocide.”

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One member of Badenoch's own frontbench, who closely monitors the mood of the party, texts me bluntly: "She is under unbelievable pressure. This will be her last conference as leader."

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He reiterated that retirement now was the “right call” because, as he bluntly put it, “you don’t ever wanna pitch bad.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crudely 
• harshly www.thesaurus.com