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blunt

 - 2 dictionary results

blunt

[bluhnt] adjective, -er, -est, verb, noun
–adjective
1. having an obtuse, thick, or dull edge or point; rounded; not sharp: a blunt pencil.
2. abrupt in address or manner: a blunt, ill-timed question.
3. slow in perception or understanding; obtuse: His isolation has made him blunt about the feelings of others.
–verb (used with object)
4. to make blunt; hebetate: He blunted the knife by using it to cut linoleum.
5. to weaken or impair the force, keenness, or susceptibility of: Wine first excites, then blunts the imagination.
–verb (used without object)
6. to become blunt.
–noun
7. something blunt, as a small-game arrow, a short sewing needle, or a short, thick cigar.
8. Slang. a cigar stuffed with marijuana.

Origin:
1150–1200; ME; perh. akin to blind


bluntly, adverb
bluntness, noun


1. See dull. 2. short, gruff, rough, rude, uncivil, impolite. Blunt, bluff, brusque, curt characterize manners and speech. Blunt suggests lack of polish and of regard for the feelings of others: blunt and tactless. Bluff implies an unintentional roughness together with so much good-natured heartiness that others rarely take offense: a bluff sea captain. Brusque connotes sharpness and abruptness of speech or manner: a brusque denial. Curt applies esp. to disconcertingly concise language: a curt reply. 3. dimwitted, thick, stolid. 4. dull.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To blunt
blunt   (blŭnt)   
adj.   blunt·er, blunt·est
  1. Having a dull edge or end; not sharp.

  2. Abrupt and often disconcertingly frank in speech: "Onscreen, John Wayne was a blunt talker and straight shooter" (Time). See Synonyms at gruff.

  3. Slow to understand or perceive; dull.

  4. Lacking in feeling; insensitive.

v.   blunt·ed, blunt·ing, blunts

v.   tr.
  1. To dull the edge of.

  2. To make less effective; weaken: blunting the criticism with a smile.

v.   intr.
To become blunt.

[Middle English.]
blunt'ly adv., blunt'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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