as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions
the refreshing bluntness of the former president in assessing those who followed him in the Oval Office
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Recent Examples of bluntness
What mattered was not the bluntness of the phrase, but the calm delivery.
—
Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The bluntness of her cut is on full display, with the ends turning up ever so slightly.
—Elise Tabin, InStyle, 14 Jan. 2026
This team has responded well to that bluntness.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
But his departure — and the bluntness of Spurs’ attacks here — indicate the importance of the January window.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Zenovich is stunned at his bluntness.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Lulu Garcia-Navarro, host of The New York Times show The Interview, pressed Cowell on what the line was between bluntness and humiliation.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 1 Dec. 2025
Here, and in the show’s finale, Lipton nails a very Wilderean combination of bluntness, holiness, and dry humor.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
In films like that, the cultural commentary comes more from metaphor than with the bluntness and directness of The Purge.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The bluntness of her cut is on full display, with the ends turning up ever so slightly.
—Elise Tabin, InStyle, 14 Jan. 2026
This team has responded well to that bluntness.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
But his departure — and the bluntness of Spurs’ attacks here — indicate the importance of the January window.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Zenovich is stunned at his bluntness.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Lulu Garcia-Navarro, host of The New York Times show The Interview, pressed Cowell on what the line was between bluntness and humiliation.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 1 Dec. 2025
Here, and in the show’s finale, Lipton nails a very Wilderean combination of bluntness, holiness, and dry humor.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
In films like that, the cultural commentary comes more from metaphor than with the bluntness and directness of The Purge.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluntness
Noun
-
The executives who will thrive in 2026 are those who understand that great storytelling is not just performance art, but strategic influence grounded in empathy, adaptability, and ruthless honesty about whether your message is landing.—
Harrison Monarth,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Video-interview tools misread autistic communication, tics, or flat affect as a lack of interest or honesty.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Know that conversations deserve deep sincerity.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Part of what comes to me, Roxana, is my sincerity and my earnestness.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed off those comments as an example of the president’s frankness.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Their frankness and loyalty are also notable when the call is in.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
However, treating this relationship transition with kindness, directness and respect is your responsibility.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
-
While not perfect, Johnson was involved in many of Palace’s best attacking moments and brought directness and purpose, qualities that have been lacking in their game since Ismaila Sarr left just before Christmas to play for Senegal in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
WalletHub has studied deferred interest since 2012, periodically flagging retailers that offer the loans and rating their financing offers on transparency and forthrightness.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
28 Nov. 2025
-
Monique’s penchant for forthrightness, almost to the point of abruptness, is what makes her reintegration to the cast fascinating already.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
With it, candor becomes a form of respect rather than confrontation.—
Abdo Riani,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Western counterparts often acknowledge them privately, even as public backlash from some European institutions and media figures ensued against Rubio’s candor.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Her question, in Lipe-Smith’s inquisitive piccolo of a voice, is heartbreaking in its blend of straightforwardness and desperate desire, as is her mother’s wavering response.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Their outspokenness has drawn some criticism.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
19 Nov. 2025
-
Kirk's outspokenness helped dissuade those fears.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bluntness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluntness. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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