blunt instrument
noun
: an object without sharp edges or points that is used as a club
He was hit over the head with a blunt instrument.
Examples of blunt instrument in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Given his public security background and lack of Trong’s ideological drive, the anticorruption campaign may become a blunt instrument for eliminating political opponents ahead of the 2026 party congress.
—
Huong Le Thu, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2024
Born from the original military versions that were the workhorses of World War II, this blunt instrument of a truck was a master at getting the job done.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2024
The man in the dark hoodie then begins to bang on the windows with his forearm before drawing an unidentifiable blunt instrument from his sleeve, and then using the object to smash the windows of the place of worship.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2024
Policymakers came to believe that trade sanctions were a blunt instrument that harmed ordinary civilians rather than the elites whose behavior they were intended to alter.
—Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
That being said, relentless bombing of Gaza is a blunt instrument that has resulted in massive Palestinian casualties and likely minimally impacted the Hamas terror organization.
—Baltimore Sun Media, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2024
Nostalgia has been offered as a blunt instrument of explanation for both Brexit and Trump.
—Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
In a post on Facebook, William Poole said he was struck on the eye with a blunt instrument and suffered lacerations, bruises, and stitches from the assault by young people trying to enter the couple’s second-floor residence.
—BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2023
The wireless emergency alerts are a bit of a blunt instrument, said Gridley.
—Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, 18 July 2023
Huong Le Thu, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2024
Born from the original military versions that were the workhorses of World War II, this blunt instrument of a truck was a master at getting the job done.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2024
The man in the dark hoodie then begins to bang on the windows with his forearm before drawing an unidentifiable blunt instrument from his sleeve, and then using the object to smash the windows of the place of worship.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2024
Policymakers came to believe that trade sanctions were a blunt instrument that harmed ordinary civilians rather than the elites whose behavior they were intended to alter.
—Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
That being said, relentless bombing of Gaza is a blunt instrument that has resulted in massive Palestinian casualties and likely minimally impacted the Hamas terror organization.
—Baltimore Sun Media, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2024
Nostalgia has been offered as a blunt instrument of explanation for both Brexit and Trump.
—Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
In a post on Facebook, William Poole said he was struck on the eye with a blunt instrument and suffered lacerations, bruises, and stitches from the assault by young people trying to enter the couple’s second-floor residence.
—BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2023
The wireless emergency alerts are a bit of a blunt instrument, said Gridley.
—Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, 18 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blunt instrument.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near blunt instrument
Cite this Entry
“Blunt instrument.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blunt%20instrument. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
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