1
as in abrupt
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner
he values honesty and is quite blunt about telling people what he doesn't like about them
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2
as in blunted
lacking sharpness of edge or point
a blunt knife won't open that package
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as in to dull
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the mushy music blunted the effect of the movie's final tragic scene
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blunt
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2025
Although the autopsy had not revealed a cause of death as of the April 7 complaint, officials believe Rivera died from blunt force trauma to the head, the document said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025
William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
To blunt the potential for change fatigue, a sensitive manager will recognize this and work to make each person on the team comfortable with whatever shifts the company needs to implement.
—Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blunt
Adjective
According to court documents and previous Courant reporting, an autopsy showed Holloway died of blunt force trauma to the head and torso and was beaten with something that left numerous round, one-inch diameter marks on her body.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2025
Although the autopsy had not revealed a cause of death as of the April 7 complaint, officials believe Rivera died from blunt force trauma to the head, the document said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
China and Fentanyl Trump said in his executive order raising Chinese tariffs to 20 percent that the Chinese government failed to blunt the flow of fentanyl and synthetic opioids.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
To blunt the potential for change fatigue, a sensitive manager will recognize this and work to make each person on the team comfortable with whatever shifts the company needs to implement.
—Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blunt
Adjective
-
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
-
Early action scenes are told in strangely oblique ways, with gunfire erupting off-screen (but little carnage shown) or else via abrupt cuts, filled in later by ultra-violent flashbacks.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The clarity might improve, but the spark—the particular cadence of someone’s thinking, the messy brilliance of their raw insight—can get dulled in translation.—
Rhea Wessel,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The intentionally half-baked approach to Season 2 foreshadows an overstuffed and potentially controversial third season, the emotional effect of which will be dulled by the likely long hiatus (Season 1 premiered in January 2023).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Lennox’s honesty sparked a wave of support from fellow artists then, including Kehlani and T-Pain, who empathized with her struggles and encouraged her to pursue independence.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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And increasingly, honesty is what consumers are willing to pay for.—
Zoe Bayliss Wong,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Brunson, who was hosting for a second time, began to sing about being short.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
4 May 2025
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This photo provided by Guinness World Records shows Pearl, the world's shortest living dog, with Reginald, the world's tallest living dog, both certified by Guinness World Records, during a playdate in Idaho Falls, Idaho, April 5, 2025.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
4 May 2025
Verb
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Answer: Your withdrawals from retirement plans won’t reduce your Social Security directly.—
Liz Weston,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
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The trial of estrogen alone also raised safety concerns, though both types of therapy reduced the risk of bone fractures.—
Jean Wactawski-Wende,
The Conversation,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Leaders can use short, personal video messages for feedback, recognition and updates because video conveys something text never will: tone, sincerity and connection.—
Chris Savage,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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While some moments certainly sizzle more than others, there’s more than enough sincerity and goofy charisma on stage to keep the show powered.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The actor behind the gruff but lovable Roy Kent shared a purrfectly eccentric analogy about the show's return on a recent episode of NPR's Wild Card podcast.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Bowling paints with the rhythm of a gruff intellectual.—
James Russell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Instead of compartmentalizing, try to identify and sit with discomfort rather than numbing it.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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After a series of trials with ether, Morton conducted a public demonstration, which successfully numbed the patient’s pain and marked a major breakthrough in medical practice.—
Ella Jeffries,
Smithsonian Magazine,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blunt. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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