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
Slot, as head coach, was more of a middle manager; someone who acted with the objectivity of a civil servant and the occasional bluntness of a corrections officer.
—
Simon Hughes, New York Times, 30 May 2026
Rise and fall But Healy, with her characteristic bluntness, didn’t sugar-coat what happened to that law.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
If a culture prizes bluntness, ask where honesty has been missing.
—Sarah Davanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
But the bluntness of the lyrics arrives just as quickly, undercutting the atmosphere by naming too plainly what the music had already begun to evoke with greater force.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
Queen Elizabeth loved Kelly’s pragmatic bluntness and viewed her as an incredibly loyal friend.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Inspired by the super cropped bobs of the roaring 1920s, the French bob is similar to a one-length short bob, but sans any harsh bluntness.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2026
Close is known for her bluntness and passion that has endeared her to fans and to her players.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 5 Apr. 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
Simon Hughes, New York Times, 30 May 2026
Rise and fall But Healy, with her characteristic bluntness, didn’t sugar-coat what happened to that law.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
If a culture prizes bluntness, ask where honesty has been missing.
—Sarah Davanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
But the bluntness of the lyrics arrives just as quickly, undercutting the atmosphere by naming too plainly what the music had already begun to evoke with greater force.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
Queen Elizabeth loved Kelly’s pragmatic bluntness and viewed her as an incredibly loyal friend.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Inspired by the super cropped bobs of the roaring 1920s, the French bob is similar to a one-length short bob, but sans any harsh bluntness.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2026
Close is known for her bluntness and passion that has endeared her to fans and to her players.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 5 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluntness
Noun
-
The organization has guided enough candidates through multiple cycles to approach these situations with both honesty and genuine optimism, identifying specifically what needs to change and executing adjustments with the same rigor applied to initial preparation.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
Thomas Tuchel’s explanation for not taking Cole Palmer to the World Cup was brutal in its honesty.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The piece has to throb and, well, that is not the first verb that comes to mind in director Jonathan Butterell’s production, with all due respect for the sincerity of the effort and the intermittent effectiveness of the storytelling.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
-
But in those cases and others, the defendants took concrete steps that demonstrated their sincerity and conscious awareness of the threatening nature of their speech.—
Wayne Unger,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Seydoux asks me in a moment of frankness.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
18 May 2026
-
Her love for the city is palpable, imbued with her frankness, her fun, her queerness, and her history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In contrast to this ribald directness, Kokopeli’s playsets feature characters who appear detached and disconnected.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
In most workplaces, uncertainty drains more energy than directness.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
There’s something both startling and seductive about such forthrightness.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
To say we are disappointed by the lack of urgency and forthrightness from the city attorney’s office is an understatement.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
None of his previous attempts at candor have garnered the same public response as the intimacy – and immediacy – of his online posts.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
-
Nessel discussed political realities with a candor rare among public officials.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Mary Gaitskill is particularly good at this ideal combination of straightforwardness and pithiness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
His outspokenness has spurred discourse among country music's Republican-leaning audience.—
Mars Salazar,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The actor recently reflected on his political outspokenness in an interview with Vanity Fair.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bluntness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluntness. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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