blunt

adjective

/blʌnt/

(comparative blunter, superlative bluntest)

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without a sharp edge or point
- a blunt knife
- This pencil's blunt!
- The police said he had been hit with a blunt instrument.
opposite sharp
(of a person or remark) very direct; saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite
- She has a reputation for blunt speaking.
- To be blunt, your work is appalling.
Synonyms honest
honest
- frank
- direct
- open
- outspoken
- straight
- blunt
These words all describe people saying exactly what they mean without trying to hide feelings, opinions or facts.
- honest not hiding the truth about something:
  Thank you for being so honest with me.
- frank honest in what you say, sometimes in a way that other people might not like:
  To be frank with you, I think your son has little chance of passing the exam.
- direct saying exactly what you mean in a way that nobody can pretend not to understand:
  You’ll have to get used to his direct manner.
  Being direct is sometimes considered positive but sometimes it is used as a ‘polite’ way of saying that somebody is rude.
- open (approving) (of a person) not keeping thoughts and feelings hidden:
  He was quite open about his reasons for leaving.
- outspoken saying exactly what you think, even if this shocks or offends people:
  She was outspoken in her criticism of the plan.
- straight honest and direct:
  I don’t think you’re being straight with me.
- blunt saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite:
  She has a reputation for blunt speaking.
which word?
- Honest and frank refer to what you say as much as how you say it:
  a(n) honest/frank admission of guilt.
  They are generally positive words, although it is possible to be too frank in a way that other people might not like. Direct, outspoken and blunt all describe somebody’s manner of saying what they think. Outspoken suggests that you are willing to shock people by saying what you believe to be right. Blunt and direct often suggest that you think honesty is more important than being polite. Open is positive and describes somebody’s character:
  I’m a very open person.
Patterns
- honest/frank/direct/open/outspoken/straight about something
- honest/frank/direct/open/straight/blunt with somebody
- a(n) honest/direct/straight/blunt answer
- a frank/direct/blunt manner

Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘dull, insensitive’): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse blunda ‘shut the eyes’.

blunt

verb

/blʌnt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they blunt	/blʌnt/ /blʌnt/
he / she / it blunts	/blʌnts/ /blʌnts/
past simple blunted	/ˈblʌntɪd/ /ˈblʌntɪd/
past participle blunted	/ˈblʌntɪd/ /ˈblʌntɪd/
-ing form blunting	/ˈblʌntɪŋ/ /ˈblʌntɪŋ/

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blunt something to make something weaker or less effective
- Age hadn't blunted his passion for adventure.
- Living alone in the country had blunted her wits.
blunt something to make a point or an edge less sharp

Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘dull, insensitive’): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse blunda ‘shut the eyes’.