51Թ

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blunt

[ bluhnt ]

adjective

blunter, bluntest.
  1. having an obtuse, thick, or dull edge or point; rounded; not sharp:

    a blunt pencil.

  2. abruptly plain and direct in address or manner, without attempting to be tactful:

    a blunt, ill-timed question.

    Synonyms: , , , , ,

  3. slow in perception or understanding; obtuse:

    His isolation has made him blunt about the feelings of others.

    Synonyms: , ,



verb (used with object)

blunted, blunting.
  1. to make blunt or dull:

    He blunted the knife by using it to cut linoleum.

    Synonyms: ,

  2. to weaken or impair the force, keenness, or susceptibility of:

    Wine first excites, then blunts the imagination.

verb (used without object)

blunted, blunting.
  1. to become blunt or dull.

noun

  1. something blunt, as a small-game arrow, a short sewing needle, or a short, thick cigar.
  2. Slang. a cigar stuffed with marijuana.

blunt

1

/ ʌԳ /

adjective

  1. (esp of a knife or blade) lacking sharpness or keenness; dull
  2. not having a sharp edge or point

    a blunt instrument

  3. (of people, manner of speaking, etc) lacking refinement or subtlety; straightforward and uncomplicated
  4. outspoken; direct and to the point

    a blunt Yorkshireman

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to make less sharp
  2. to diminish the sensitivity or perception of; make dull
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. slang.
    a cannabis cigarette
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Blunt

2

/ ʌԳ /

noun

  1. BluntAnthony19071983MBritishHISTORY: historianCRIME AND POLICING: spy Anthony . 1907–83, British art historian and Soviet spy
  2. BluntWilfred Scawen18401922MBritishWRITING: poetTRAVEL AND EXPLORATION: travellerPOLITICS: anti-imperialist Wilfred Scawen . 1840–1922, British poet, traveller, and anti-imperialist
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈܲԳٲԱ, noun
  • ˈܲԳٱ, adverb
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ܲԳ· adverb
  • ܲԳ·Ա noun
  • ܲ·ܲԳ· adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of blunt1

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; perhaps akin to blind
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of blunt1

C12: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse blundr dozing, blunda to close one's eyes; see blunder , blind
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Synonym Study

See dull. 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 especially to disconcertingly concise language: a curt reply. See dull.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

At community meetings, she grieves with locals, alternating between tears and blunt talk.

From

Tony was just 41 days old when he was assaulted in Whitstable, Kent, an attack which caused multiple fractures and dislocations, and blunt trauma to the face, leading to organ failure, toxic shock and sepsis.

From

That, to be blunt, is the whole ball game.

From

As Inae Oh noted in Mother Jones, most people who get plastic surgery seek subtlety, but Mar-a-Lago face is "ridiculously blunt."

From

The novel’s 65 uses of “b***h” in all its variations got paired down to about a dozen for the film, but each utterance hit with blunt force.

From

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More About Blunt

What is a basic definition ofblunt?

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 doesblunt 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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What are some other forms related to blunt?

  • bluntly (adverb)
  • bluntness (noun)
  • unblunted (adjective)

What are some synonyms for blunt?

What are some words that often get used in discussing blunt?

How isblunt 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.

Try usingblunt!

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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