blunt

[bluhnt]

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.

Origin of blunt

1150–1200; Middle English; perhaps akin to blind

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

Synonyms for blunt

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

2. short, gruff, rough, rude, uncivil, impolite. 3. dimwitted, thick, stolid. 4. dull, hebetate.

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. 2018

Related Words for bluntness

disrespect, confidence, candor, veracity, virtue, probity, frankness, loyalty, honor, self-respect, responsibility, sincerity, fairness, faithfulness, integrity, rectitude, morality, trustworthiness, nerve, misbehavior

Examples from the Web for bluntness

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
Thus he plays his weak hand with a bluntness that often backfires.
Karzai’s Temper Tantrum
Bruce Riedel
June 20, 2013
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
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

Historical Examples of bluntness

The bluntness of Lizzie's speech disconcerted him, and yet the simplicity of it reassured him.
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine
The bluntness of this assertion rather staggered the prince.
The Lure of the Mask
Harold MacGrath
"Madame, I have none," he answered with a bluntness not ill calculated.
Simon Dale
Anthony Hope
There are times for tact and times for bluntness, and this was a time, Brent decided, for the latter.
Ten From Infinity
Paul W. Fairman
If the man felt any perturbation at the bluntness of the question he did not show it.
The Book of All-Power
Edgar Wallace

British Dictionary definitions for bluntness

blunt

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

Blunt

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

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

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.

blunt

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

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]