Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

bluff

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of bluff

being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner
  • He's a bluff but good-hearted teacher.
Synonyms of bluff

abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), crusty, curt, downright, short, snippy, unceremonious
Words Related to bluff

gruff, rough, snappish

candid, direct, forthright, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, open, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, point-blank, straightforward, straight-out

artless, discourteous, disrespectful, impertinent, impolite, inconsiderate, insensitive, rude, tactless, undiplomatic

brief, closemouthed, laconic, reserved, reticent, terse, tight-lipped

earnest, honest, sincere

coarse, crass, crude, low, uncouth, vulgar
Near Antonyms of bluff

civil, considerate, courteous, diplomatic, gracious, polite, politic, smooth, suave, tactful

loquacious, talkative, voluble

long-winded, prolix, verbose

courtly, cultivated, gallant, genteel, polished, refined
Antonyms of bluff

circuitous, mealymouthed

Synonym Discussion of bluff

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

bluff

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of bluff

a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice
  • fossils embedded in a stone bluff that date from the Jurassic period
Synonyms of bluff

cliff, crag, escarpment, palisade, precipice, scar, scarp
Words Related to bluff

butte, hogback, tor

bulwark, embankment

declivity, drop-off, pitch

bluff

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of bluff

1 to cause to believe what is untrue
  • I bluffed the interviewer into believing that I could really speak French.
Synonyms of bluff

bamboozle, beguile, buffalo, burn, catch, con, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fake out, fool, gaff, gull, have, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, juggle, misguide, misinform, mislead, snow, spoof, string along, take in, trick
Words Related to bluff

kid, put on, tease

bleed, cheat, chisel, defraud, diddle, euchre, flam, fleece, gyp, hustle, mulct, rook, shortchange, skin, squeeze, stick, sting, swindle
Phrases Synonymous with bluff

do a number on, lead one down the garden path (also lead one up the garden path), pull one's leg, pull the wool over one's eyes
Near Antonyms of bluff

debunk, expose, reveal, show up, uncloak, uncover, unmask

disclose, divulge, tell, unveil

disabuse, disenchant, disillusion
Antonyms of bluff

undeceive
2 to present a false appearance of
  • The basketball player bluffed a shot, then passed instead.
Synonyms of bluff

act, affect, assume, counterfeit, dissemble, fake, feign, pass (for), pretend, profess, put on, sham, simulate
Words Related to bluff

dissimulate, impersonate, let on, masquerade, play, playact, pose

forge, imitate

camouflage, conceal, disguise, mask

feint

malinger
Phrases Synonymous with bluff

make believe

Learn More about bluff

  1. See words that rhyme with bluff Dictionary: Definition of bluff Spanish Central: Translation of bluff Nglish: Translation of bluff for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bluff for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up bluff? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games