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
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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
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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
Cliff Lewis, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2025
Many had dismissed his tariff promises as a bluff or a negotiating tactic.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 23 Jan. 2025
This sets the stage for a second season, albeit one presumably missing the tension of a man bluffing his way through a profession that’s not his own.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 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
With tide pools below and a grassy bluff above, this serene park offers a sense of calm that’s even more powerful when shared with fewer people.
—Cliff Lewis, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2025
Many had dismissed his tariff promises as a bluff or a negotiating tactic.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
Slate: Joe Biden clearly thinks Donald Trump isn’t bluffing.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 23 Jan. 2025
This sets the stage for a second season, albeit one presumably missing the tension of a man bluffing his way through a profession that’s not his own.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bluff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluff
Adjective
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All four were pronounced deceased at the scene as a result of blunt force injuries sustained in the crash, Allmon said.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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One of the men, Terry Carter, would die from multiple blunt force injuries within the hour.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Instead, while City have not merely dipped but fallen off a cliff, Arsenal are set to finish a distant second to a team in Liverpool who have signed just one player all season — Federico Chiesa, who has barely played.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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There’s a shot of Elizabeth standing on a cliff, staring into a vast expanse as Marianelli’s score swells.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That was probably a terrible decision, in fairness, but Meazza responded by faking a shot to fool a defender, then teed up Piola to score.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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While the towering shoes may seem intimidating, don’t let their large, often chunky heels fool you: PLatform shoes are among the most comfortable heels in any wardrobe.—
Nina Derwin,
Glamour,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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On Friday night, during rounds two and three of the draft, Sanders received a call from someone pretending to be New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2025
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After watching a movie with Stoddart, the teenage boys pretended to leave, only to sneak back into the house through the basement shortly after.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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With his initial burst, Sanders can maneuver through gaps with abrupt hands/feet or change the line of scrimmage by quickly getting into a blocker’s chest.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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The abrupt cancellation Wednesday of a London trip that Mr. Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had planned – to meet officials from Ukraine and its European allies – was the latest sign that ending the conflict is proving far more complex.—
Ned Temko,
Christian Science Monitor,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The rim is a 1,200-foot-tall escarpment that rises dramatically above a broad valley, giving you the perfect perch for spotting the show.—
Graham Averill,
Outside Online,
3 Mar. 2025
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The stately Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is a ubiquitous presence in Quebec City, always peering down on visitors from its highpoint on the Cap Diamant escarpment.—
Vjosa Isai,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Deceptive tactics trick users into providing biometric data unknowingly.—
Mohamed Lazzouni,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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The light from screens can trick your brain into staying awake.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And a third category were boxes outfitted with plastic plants, perhaps signaling absentee owners or landlords who seek to simulate care.—
Sonja Dümpelmann,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2025
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These virtual personas simulate how different customer segments might react to new products, pricing changes or marketing campaigns, allowing businesses to test strategies before launching them to real consumers.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bluff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluff. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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