point-blank

[point-blangk]

adjective

1. aimed or fired straight at the mark especially from close range; direct.

2. straightforward, plain, or explicit.

   a point-blank denial.

adverb

1. with a direct aim; directly; straight.

2. bluntly; frankly.

   She told him point-blank that he was not welcome.

point-blank

adjective

1. 1. aimed or fired at a target so close that it is unnecessary to make allowance for the drop in the course of the projectile

   2. permitting such aim or fire without loss of accuracy

      at point-blank range

2. plain or blunt

   a point-blank question

adverb

1. directly or straight

2. plainly or bluntly

Word History and Origins

Origin of point-blank¹

First recorded in 1565–75

Word History and Origins

Origin of point-blank¹

C16: from _point + _blank (in the sense: centre spot of an archery target)

Example Sentences

In one recent incident filmed by a bystander and widely circulated among Kenyans, police shot a Nairobi street vendor in the head at point-blank range, apparently unprovoked.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the pressure is on immediately when Bruiser asks Rudy point-blank if he has what it takes to be a rainmaker for the firm.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A US woman who was hired as a killer and tried to shoot a man in the UK at point-blank range has been found guilty of conspiracy to murder.

Read more on BBC

A second protest on 17 June led to the shooting at point-blank range of one civilian, street vendor Boniface Kariuki, who later died.

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They went through details of the brutal killings and their decision to reload and continue shooting their parents at point-blank range in their living room.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bluntly 
• candidly 
• directly 
• forthrightly www.thesaurus.com
• frankly 
• straightforwardly www.thesaurus.com