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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bluntness
With Dutch bluntness, Van Gaal had informed Carrick that the 2016 FA Cup final would be Carrick’s last match.
—
Michael Walker, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
She’s built a career on candid takes about relationships, work and the absurdities of everyday life, delivered with her trademark mix of bluntness and charm.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Claxton boiled it down to the same thing, only with a player’s bluntness.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
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
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
Michael Walker, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
She’s built a career on candid takes about relationships, work and the absurdities of everyday life, delivered with her trademark mix of bluntness and charm.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Claxton boiled it down to the same thing, only with a player’s bluntness.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluntness
Noun
-
Eric Church built his career on raw honesty in his music.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
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What emerges is not just a portrait of a crisis, but also of quiet hope found in connection, in honesty, and in the courage to keep calling.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Joy Randolph, Ke Huy Quan and Daniel Kaluuya nailed the assignment in recent years, giving speeches that struck an endearing balance of humor and sincerity, but always with a dash of the unexpected.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
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Foligno always skirted the line between earnest and corny, but nobody ever doubted his sincerity.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Her emotional frankness has also translated into measurable commercial impact.—
Amy Francombe,
Vogue,
4 Mar. 2026
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The cast rises to the challenge of Churchill’s rapid-fire, often overlapping dialogue, with comedic highlights including Pope Joan’s coarse frankness and Dull Gret’s unexpected interjections.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That directness takes a distinct form in each artist’s practice.—
Miguel Sirgado,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
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She’s also known for her directness, which has led to dramatic clashes with her fellow commissioners.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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Rozenshtein was perhaps being diplomatic—the central question about OpenAI for the past several years has been less about candor and more about honesty.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2026
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The right people should appreciate your candor.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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The outspokenness of the Winter Olympic athletes echoes a dramatic protest by Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos which electrified the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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Their outspokenness has drawn some criticism.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
19 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bluntness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluntness. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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