blunted 1 of 2

adjective

as in blunt
lacking sharpness of edge or point the blunted saw was worthless for fine woodworking

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blunted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of blunt
as in reduced
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling the mushy music blunted the effect of the movie's final tragic scene

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 blunted
Adjective
The results have been impressive enough from far away, but examined more closely as a blunted, external force, Big Brother has almost always been too literal in horror cinema. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 May 2026 Orientation matters; garlic is planted vertically, with the root (blunted) end of the clove facing down, and the sprout (pointy) end facing up. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026 Flat, calm but earnest, mildly anxious, blunted, volatile. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Modern interceptor missile technology has advanced to the point where even massive, multi-tiered attacks can be blunted with a high degree of probability. — New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026 The tension of Noah’s character, which Lanterns presents as a parallel to John’s, is immediately blunted by the show’s need to soften and resolve everything left uncertain in John’s. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026 Know More There’s plenty of history to look back on for House Democrats who worry that a favorable political climate could get blunted by last-minute GOP spending. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026 There’s a nice bitter chocolate flavor that’s blunted perfectly by the brownies’ delicate sweetness. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026 The attacking threat evident in those marquee victories has since been blunted too, with Morocco international Ismael Saibari departing for Bayern Munich this summer. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026 Britton told me that extensive meditation can prompt the prefrontal cortex to essentially shut off the brain’s emotional centers, causing feelings to seem blunted. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026 The defeat blunted Baltimore's bid to make some progress in the crowded race for the final AL wild-card spot. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 Exports flowing from Saudi ports have blunted some of the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure. — Fatma Khaled, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blunted
  1. blunt
  2. reduced
  3. dulled
  4. diminished
  5. weakened
  6. subsided
  7. dampened
  8. decreased
Adjective
  • The coroner listed his cause of death as multiple blunt-force injuries and his manner of death as an accident.
    — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Newsom’s support for the deal came after Paramount threatened to move operations to Tennessee or Texas, placing more pressure on Bonta to come to an agreement and blunt efforts to lose California’s signature industry.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of blunt
Verb
  • He was sentenced to four years’ probation and initially ordered to stay away from his ex-wife and two children for six years, which was later reduced to two years, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The film, set between the years 1945 and 1947, depicts a society struggling to recover from war, only to be reduced, once again, by the arrival of a kaiju (as giant monsters are known in Japanese, and to fans of the corresponding film genre).
    — Matt Alt, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of reduced
Verb
  • The primary effects generally wear off in less than an hour, but a person’s senses may remain dulled and their judgment and coordination impaired for several hours afterward.
    — Christopher P. Holstege, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Bikes like these would make a lot of sense from a sales perspective, considering the appeal of these models has never dulled in the motorcycle community.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of dulled
Verb
  • As with many early American utopian communities, their ranks diminished after the Civil War, but a small band of Shakers has persisted at Sabbathday.
    — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Somewhat diminished in the film’s erratic attempts to contextualize this ever-metastasizing sickness is Odeh himself.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminished
Verb
  • The Times also found that the towers had no visible shear walls, and that the uniform orientation of their columns weakened these high-rises against seismic forces.
    — Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Once a symbol of superlative government competence, the nation’s weakened federal space agency has largely outsourced its extraterrestrial ambitions to the private sector.
    — Peter Jamison, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of weakened
Verb
  • As the twitching subsided, the team warden shook Guardado and shouted his name, but there was no response.
    — David Fischer, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Across much of software, AI panic has largely subsided as incumbents have posted persistent growth.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of subsided
Verb
  • The postgame party was wet, but not dampened after the Trojans beat a top-five opponent at the Coliseum for the first time since 2015.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 Nov. 2026
  • How To Spot-Clean A Weighted Blanket Use a clean microfiber cloth dampened in a solution of water and gentle detergent to wipe the surface of the blanket.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of dampened
Verb
  • In a further wrinkle, the researchers found that warmer weather increased mouse numbers but decreased nymphal ticks.
    — Clarissa Brincat, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Since then, available retail space has declined by about 13% with the restructuring of the Water Tower Place, and store vacancies have decreased by 2%, according to Gregory Kirsch, managing broker for Kirsch agencies.
    — Jane Miller, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of decreased

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Cite this Entry

“Blunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blunted. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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