as in reduces
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
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Recent Examples of blunts
By this decade, your body has started to naturally lose muscle mass, and putting on new muscle may be more difficult due to anabolic resistance, which blunts the muscle’s ability to respond to external stimuli like exercise and protein.
—
Emma Loewe, Outside, 1 Jan. 2026
For Sanders, landing and holding a blue-chip defensive back during a losing season is a massive recruiting win that blunts any narratives of recruits fleeing the program.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
For Singh, Stargate blunts the essence of the Clayton Act by potentially eliminating competition down the road.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
Emma Loewe, Outside, 1 Jan. 2026
For Sanders, landing and holding a blue-chip defensive back during a losing season is a massive recruiting win that blunts any narratives of recruits fleeing the program.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
For Singh, Stargate blunts the essence of the Clayton Act by potentially eliminating competition down the road.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blunts
Verb
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This reduces the risk of unforeseen physics complications needed for commercial operation, according to the Type One Energy.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Jan. 2026
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Metro also began a tap-to-exit program at certain high-crime stations, with the idea that removing fare-jumpers also reduces crime.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Insisting on noninterference, Beijing offers foreign leaders capital and legitimacy without requiring transparency, human rights safeguards, or competitive elections—a model that strengthens incumbents and dulls democratic accountability.—
JANE HARMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
13 Nov. 2025
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None of that dulls the original game, nor its portrayal of Alma.—
Will Borger,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cold water immersion constricts blood vessels, reduces swelling, numbs sore areas, and flushes lactic acid from the muscles.—
Outside,
Outside,
10 Dec. 2025
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Polarity numbs himself with alcohol and can’t be bothered with God U’s suspicious new Dean, aptly named Cipher (Hamish Linklater).—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But those long hours sitting at a desk, commuting by car or public transport, and spending leisure time in front of screens also diminishes opportunities for the legs to be challenged.—
Desireé Oostland,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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An overreliance on tools weakens our civilization (and saps the film’s dramatic thrills).—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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Ignoring this reality weakens any serious climate plan.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Strong winds eventually pushed it back into an icy area south of Grand Haven, where it became wedged in thick ice, providing data on how much ice actually dampens strong waves.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
8 Dec. 2025
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Its shock absorber dampens noise even further by protecting against accidental movement like bumps and knocks.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
19 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Researchers have found that impatience decreases friendliness and willingness to help others, explains Cassie Mogilner Holmes, a professor of behavioral decision-making at UCLA.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
20 Jan. 2026
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Tolerance for operational friction decreases.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blunts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blunts. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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