blunt

1 of 3

adjective

ˈblənt 

1

: having an edge or point that is not sharp

scissors with blunt ends

was hit over the head with a blunt instrument

gave her bangs a blunt cut just above her eyebrows

2

a

: abrupt in speech or manner

She tends to be blunt.

a blunt refusal

b

: being straight to the point : direct

To be perfectly blunt, I don't think he can do it.

3

a

: slow or deficient in feeling : insensitive

… showing how blunt the eyes and ears of writers generally are …

—Norman Foerster

b

: obtuse (see obtuse sense 2a) in understanding or discernment : dull

his blunt mind

bluntly adverb

bluntness noun

blunt

2 of 3

verb

blunted; blunting; blunts

transitive verb

: to make less sharp, definite, or forceful

an ax blunted from use

blunted their criticism by praising her enthusiasm

intransitive verb

: to become blunt (see blunt entry 1)

blunt

3 of 3

noun

: a cigar that has been hollowed out and filled with marijuana

Synonyms

Adjective

• abrupt
• bluff
• brusque
• brusk
• crusty
• curt
• downright
• short
• short-spoken
• snippy
• unceremonious

Verb

• benumb
• cauterize
• damp
• dampen
• deaden
• dull
• numb

Choose the Right Synonym for blunt

dull, blunt, obtuse mean not sharp, keen, or acute.

dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency.

a dull pain

a dull mind

blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception.

a person of blunt sensibility

obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination.

too obtuse to take the hint

bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, crusty, gruff mean abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner.

bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality.

a bluff manner

blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings.

a blunt appraisal

brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness.

a brusque response

curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness.

a curt command

crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness.

a crusty exterior

gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness.

puts on a gruff pose

Examples of blunt in a Sentence

Adjective

To be perfectly blunt, I find her annoying.

He was blunt about needing more privacy.

Verb

a weapon blunted by use

the mushy music blunted the effect of the movie's final tragic scene

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The revelation, along with a blunt critique of then-President Donald Trump, quickly attracted media attention for its unfiltered nature. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

But despite the blunt warning about One Tree Hill, Lenz didn’t want to give up her pursuit of the show. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 21 Oct. 2024

Verb

Though many cities in California have had rent control on the books for decades, those rules have been blunted by Costa-Hawkins, a law that limits rent control to houses and apartment buildings built prior to 1995 and lets landlords raise rents when new tenants move in. —Andre Mouchard, Orange County Register, 5 Nov. 2024

The big picture: Mayoral hopefuls in cities from Richmond, Virginia, to San Diego have pledged to blunt the high cost of housing by allowing denser construction, even as some of those proposals have sparked local backlash. —Sami Sparber, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024

Noun

Maybe smoke a blunt and eat some Cherry Garcia too? —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 July 2024

And then there was the time when a group of actors was passing around a blunt and Shaker accidentally dropped it in a crack in the floorboards. —Mark Grochowski, Curbed, 28 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English blont, of uncertain origin

Verb

Middle English blonten, verbal derivative of blont blunt entry 1

Noun

from blunt "a short, thick cigar," noun derivative of blunt entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1988, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing blunt

• blunt instrument
• blunt trauma

Kids Definition

blunt

1 of 2 adjective

ˈblənt 

1

: slow or lacking in feeling or understanding

2

: having an edge or point that is not sharp

3

: abrupt in speech or manner

bluntly adverb

bluntness noun

blunt

2 of 2 verb

: to make or become less sharp