as in blunt
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner
he's a bluff but good-hearted teacher
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to fool
to cause to believe what is untrue
I bluffed the interviewer into believing that I could really speak French and thus would be the perfect person to serve in the newspaper's Paris bureau
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of
the basketball player bluffed a shot, then passed instead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bluff
Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
Though the Explorer majors much more on practicality, somehow Ford has managed to turn a fairly bluff front-end styling and generally boxy silhouette familiar to properly sensible family SUV into an attractive design.
—WIRED, 21 Mar. 2023
Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 4 June 2025
Over the past four years, San Clemente’s eroding bluffs — on both city and private property — have repeatedly forced the closure of the rail line.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 2 June 2025
Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
President Trump would be wise to heed the warning rather than try to bluff or bully his way past it.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bluff
Adjective
One day in 2010, an e-mail from Steve Wentzel, the Zimbabwean tycoon, arrived in the in-box of one of South Pole’s founders—a tall, bluff German man named Christian Dannecker.
—Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
Though the Explorer majors much more on practicality, somehow Ford has managed to turn a fairly bluff front-end styling and generally boxy silhouette familiar to properly sensible family SUV into an attractive design.
—WIRED, 21 Mar. 2023
Noun
The world has already watched Trump struggle to sustain 145 percent tariffs on China for more than a few weeks, and most countries would probably call Washington’s bluff on a tariff threat several times higher.
—Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 4 June 2025
Over the past four years, San Clemente’s eroding bluffs — on both city and private property — have repeatedly forced the closure of the rail line.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 2 June 2025
Verb
Count My Lies centers on compulsive liar Sloane Caraway, who bluffs her way into a job as a nanny for a gorgeous and charismatic couple, Violet and Jay Lockhart.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
President Trump would be wise to heed the warning rather than try to bluff or bully his way past it.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bluff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluff
Adjective
-
In other words — not to be too blunt about it — employers took responsibility for training their workers to work for them.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
5 July 2025
-
The man identified as Moore-Hodges walked away from the park around 3:50 a.m. According to the complaint, an autopsy on June 30 affirmed the victim died of multiple blunt force injuries to his head and neck.—
Ariela Lopez,
jsonline.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
Hours later, a woman died in a fall from the cliff in a separate incident, sheriff’s officials told news outlets.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2025
-
Taken in Madagascar at the end of the dry season, the courageous lemur risks a harrowing jump from a towering cliff to another -- carrying her baby along for the ride.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Verb
-
While denim remains a primary component of global fashion at every price point, don’t let its ubiquity and casual vibe fool you.—
Simon Mainwaring,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
But don’t let its impressive storage space fool you — the case folds in on itself to create a compact roll that’s easy to stow in suitcases and handbags.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
The scams might start out with a text from someone pretending to be a government official, such as a local sheriff.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
10 July 2025
-
Adams, who started as a center forward pretending to be former Arsenal, Barcelona and New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry, recalled taking his earliest steps in soccer in Wappinger.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
However, her time in Fiji came to an abrupt end as shown during Episode 30, which aired on Sunday, July 6.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
The third free practice at Silverstone saw two red flags in the final ten minutes, bringing the session to an abrupt halt.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
As sunrise paints the rocks crimson only the call of baboons echoing between rocky escarpments punctuates the silence.—
Chloe Berge,
Outside Online,
17 June 2025
-
Fun fact: The Pine Ridge is a 100-mile-long escarpment of sandstone bluffs and the main geologic feature of northwest Nebraska.—
Brian Higgins,
Outside Online,
20 May 2025
Verb
-
This is exactly how scammers trick people into giving up personal details, login credentials, or even payment information.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2025
-
Kyle and Kamilla couldn't believe their plan worked, while Joe wondered whether he and Eva had been tricked.—
David Wysong,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
The whole structure could even be rotated to simulate the motion of the stars.—
Martin Bush,
Space.com,
5 July 2025
-
Sprinklers simulate rain, except that sprinkler heads often throw the water horizontally.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bluff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluff. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share