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blunt
[ bluhnt ]
adjective
- having an obtuse, thick, or dull edge or point; rounded; not sharp:
a blunt pencil.
- abruptly plain and direct in address or manner, without attempting to be tactful:
a blunt, ill-timed question.
- slow in perception or understanding; obtuse:
His isolation has made him blunt about the feelings of others.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
- to become blunt or dull.
noun
- something blunt, as a small-game arrow, a short sewing needle, or a short, thick cigar.
- Slang. a cigar stuffed with marijuana.
blunt
1/ blʌnt /
adjective
- (esp of a knife or blade) lacking sharpness or keenness; dull
- not having a sharp edge or point
a blunt instrument
- (of people, manner of speaking, etc) lacking refinement or subtlety; straightforward and uncomplicated
- outspoken; direct and to the point
a blunt Yorkshireman
verb
- to make less sharp
- to diminish the sensitivity or perception of; make dull
noun
- slang.a cannabis cigarette
Blunt
2/ blʌnt /
noun
- BluntAnthony19071983MBritishHISTORY: historianCRIME AND POLICING: spy Anthony . 1907–83, British art historian and Soviet spy
- BluntWilfred Scawen18401922MBritishWRITING: poetTRAVEL AND EXPLORATION: travellerPOLITICS: anti-imperialist Wilfred Scawen . 1840–1922, British poet, traveller, and anti-imperialist
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Derived Forms
- ˈbluntness, noun
- ˈbluntly, adverb
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Other Words From
- blunt·ly adverb
- blunt·ness noun
- un·blunt·ed adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of blunt1
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Synonym Study
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Example Sentences
A 2018 survey by the International Monetary Fund, cited by the Wall Street Journal, found government bankers are experimenting with the technology as a way to lower costs and to blunt the rise of private cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Washington’s inability to strike a deal on a new stimulus spending plan, market observers agree, has blunted the economic recovery.
Ethically speaking, then, any respectful engagement with them calls for a recognition of that fact, not a blunt attempt at persuasion.
Galloway, known well for blunt and opinionated commentary on the tech industry, says he grew concerned that Robinhood had become “casino-like” and gamified, encouraging newer investors to trade when they had little knowledge of the markets.
They either blunt other economic activity or have too small of an overall impact to even measure.
The pale, baby-faced, red-cheeked rapper is furiously puffing away at a hastily-made blunt crammed with low-grade weed.
This was very blunt and surprising to hear from any official in charge of an aviation disaster.
The real reason Mister Ham was taking bids was, to be perfectly blunt, because he needed the money.
No matter how admirable or inspiring his message appears to be, it often hits you over the head like a blunt instrument.
“It was like a curtain was beginning to be opened,” says Noor, who was surprised by the blunt request.
Presently his blunt ungainly head rose within ten feet of them.
She shook her head—Gilbert was not at home, and her axe was so blunt that a body might ride to Rumford on it.
Jess worked hard over the head, pushing the padding well into the blunt nose.
Then she picked up a magazine and glanced through it, cutting the pages with a blunt edge of her knife.
You can bet no trace will ever be found of that blunt instrument, and naturally he left no evidence coming or going.
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Related Words
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More About Blunt
What is a basic definition of blunt?
Blunt describes something as being not sharp or as being straightforward. Blunt is commonly used as a slang noun to mean a marijuana cigarette. Blunt has several other senses as an adjective, verb, and noun.
If something is blunt, it has a flat surface or is rounded. Blunt objects lack points and will slam, prod, or smash rather than pierce, puncture, or stab. In this sense, blunt is the opposite of sharp. For example, a sword is a sharp weapon that has a fine point that can pierce or has a fine edge that can slice. On the other hand, a baseball bat is a blunt object that is rounded with a flat surface. You can’t cut or slice anything with a baseball bat.
Real-life examples: Sledgehammers, baseball bats, and tubes are all blunt objects.
Used in a sentence: He smacked the nails with the blunt end of the hammer.
In this same sense, blunt means to make something not sharp.
Used in a sentence: She blunted the knife by trying to use it to cut plaster.
Blunt can also mean something is straightforward or direct. Usually, this sense refers to comments or statements that are abrupt. For example, saying that your girlfriend’s new dress is ugly is a blunt statement because it directly states an opinion. As you might guess, this sense of blunt is often used interchangeably with words such as rude, curt, and explicit. The adverb bluntly most often refers to this sense of blunt.
Used in a sentence: “I really hate that guy,” Shirley said bluntly.
In slang, a blunt is a rolled cigarette or cigar that contains marijuana.
Used in a sentence: I saw him smoking a blunt out back on the porch.
Where does blunt come from?
The first records of blunt come from the later 1100s. It comes from Middle English. Any earlier origin is unclear.
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How is blunt used in real life?
Blunt is a common word that often means something isn’t sharp or describes a statement as being straight to the point.
I say I'm not stupid but then I did spend a term at uni thinking my knife was too blunt when really I was just using it upside down
— aimeeee (@aymm_) August 7, 2016
Having known and interacted with the current air force chief, I'm surprised at his blunt statement on women and combat flying roles.
— Navdeep Singh (@SinghNavdeep) March 13, 2014
I gotta smoke a blunt with Snoop at some point in my life
— Andrea Russett (@AndreaRussett) September 2, 2015
Try using blunt!
Which of the following objects would NOT be described as being blunt?
A. a baseball bat
B. an unsharpened pencil
C. a mallet
D. a pointy needle
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