blunt

[ bluhnt ]

/ blʌnt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR blunt ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, blunt·er, blunt·est.

having an obtuse, thick, or dull edge or point; rounded; not sharp: a blunt pencil.

abrupt in address or manner: a blunt, ill-timed question.

slow in perception or understanding; obtuse: His isolation has made him blunt about the feelings of others.

verb (used with object), blunt·ed, blunt·ing.

to make blunt or dull: He blunted the knife by using it to cut linoleum.

to weaken or impair the force, keenness, or susceptibility of: Wine first excites, then blunts the imagination.

verb (used without object), blunt·ed, blunt·ing.

to become blunt or dull.

noun

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

Slang. a cigar stuffed with marijuana.

Nearby words

blunderhead, blundering, blunge, blunger, blunkett, blunt, blunt duct adenosis, blunthead, bluntly, bluntness, blur

Origin of blunt

1150–1200; Middle English; perhaps akin to blind

SYNONYMS FOR blunt

2 short, gruff, rough, rude, uncivil, impolite.

3 dimwitted, thick, stolid.

4 dull, hebetate.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR blunt ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsblunt·ly, adverbblunt·ness, nounun·blunt·ed, adjective

Synonym study

1. See dull. 2. 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. 3. See dull.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bluntness

The audience laughed at the bluntness, and at the expectation that an answer could be had so easily.
D.C.’s Conservative Guru Finds His Inner Hippie|Eleanor Clift|June 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Christie has “a lot of aspects that people really like, boldness, bluntness,” Vander Plaats said.
Huckabee 2016 Would Give Iowa to Christie|Ben Jacobs|December 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Thus he plays his weak hand with a bluntness that often backfires.
Karzai’s Temper Tantrum|Bruce Riedel|June 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Sometimes her bluntness felt painful, but her lack of hypocrisy was inspiring.
Mother’s Day 2013: Gloria Steinem, Erica Jong & Writers Thank Their Moms|Gloria Steinem, Erica Jong, Fay Weldon, Dalma Heyn, Joyce Maynard|May 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The U.S. envoy is direct for a diplomat, but she showed during the Libyan crisis that bluntness can be effective.
U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice’s Blunt Style Unusual, But Effective on Libya|Eleanor Clift|January 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
"He's pretty ill, dear," he said gently, and Julia found his smooth tenderness infinitely less bearable than Richie's bluntness.
The Story Of Julia Page|Kathleen Norris
In his few years of campaigning he had lost his instinct of diplomacy, without acquiring a soldier's bluntness.
Clarence|Bret Harte
And he proceeded to discuss the matter with a bluntness which disconcerted the Englishman.
Froth|Armando Palacio Valds
Its exquisite irony mixed with its bluntness told all that was necessary to tell—and forecasted the inevitable fall.
The Fight For The Republic in China|Bertram Lenox Putnam Weale
The bluntness of the statement made The Phantom catch his breath.
The Gray Phantom|Herman Landon

British Dictionary definitions for bluntness (1 of 2)

blunt

/ (blʌnt) /

adjective

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

not having a sharp edge or pointa blunt instrument

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

outspoken; direct and to the pointa blunt Yorkshireman

verb (tr)

to make less sharp

to diminish the sensitivity or perception of; make dull

noun

slang a cannabis cigarette

Derived Formsbluntly, adverbbluntness, noun

Word Origin for blunt

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

British Dictionary definitions for bluntness (2 of 2)

Blunt

/ (blʌnt) /

noun

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

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for bluntness (1 of 4)

bluntness

late 15c., "stupidity," from blunt (adj.) + -ness. Meaning "rudeness" is from c.1600.

Word Origin and History for bluntness (1 of 4)

blunt

adj.

c.1200, "dull, obtuse," perhaps from or related to Old Norse blundra (see blunder (v.)). Of tools or weapons, late 14c. Meaning "abrupt of speech or manner" is from 1580s.

Word Origin and History for bluntness (2 of 4)

blunt

late 14c., from blunt (adj.). Related: Blunted; blunting.

Word Origin and History for bluntness (3 of 4)

blunt

street slang for "marijuana and tobacco cigar" (easier to pass around, easier to disguise, and the stimulant in the tobacco enhances the high from the pot) surfaced c.1993, but is said to have originated among Jamaicans in New York City in the early 1980s; from Phillies Blunt brand cigars; see blunt (adj.), which has been used of certain cigars since 19c.

Users say that the Phillies Blunt brand produces less harsh-tasting or sweeter smoke. The leaf wrapper of a Phillies Blunt is strong enough to hold together through the manipulations of making a blunt. Other brands fall apart. [http://nepenthes.lycaeum.org/Drugs/THC/Smoke/blunts.html]

blunt

adjective, blunt·er, blunt·est.

verb (used with object), blunt·ed, blunt·ing.

verb (used without object), blunt·ed, blunt·ing.

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of blunt

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for bluntness

British Dictionary definitions for bluntness (1 of 2)

blunt

adjective

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for blunt

British Dictionary definitions for bluntness (2 of 2)

Blunt

noun

Word Origin and History for bluntness (1 of 4)

bluntness

Word Origin and History for bluntness (1 of 4)

blunt

Word Origin and History for bluntness (2 of 4)

blunt

Word Origin and History for bluntness (3 of 4)

blunt