blunt 1 of 2

blunt

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word blunt distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of blunt are bluff, brusque, crusty, curt, and gruff. While all these words mean "abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner," blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings.

a blunt appraisal

When would bluff be a good substitute for blunt?

The words bluff and blunt can be used in similar contexts, but bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality.

a bluff manner

When is brusque a more appropriate choice than blunt?

The words brusque and blunt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness.

a brusque response

When might crusty be a better fit than blunt?

While the synonyms crusty and blunt are close in meaning, crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness.

a crusty exterior

Where would curt be a reasonable alternative to blunt?

The meanings of curt and blunt largely overlap; however, curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness.

a curt command

When can gruff be used instead of blunt?

Although the words gruff and blunt have much in common, gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness.

puts on a gruff pose

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of blunt
Adjective
Adams, a Democrat whose 12th Congressional District includes parts of Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties, offered blunt criticism of Trump’s second term. Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2025 Gaga’s new ‘do featured blunt bangs and a face-framing silhouette that was curled under, creating a bouncy look. Robyn Merrett, StyleCaster, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
The failure to find agreement on a potential sit-down for Harris may have blunted efforts by the former vice president to reach young men, who make up the bulk of Rogan’s massive fan base. Julia Mueller, The Hill, 29 Jan. 2025 Product manufacturers and retailers can help blunt the harms by restricting their use of problematic or unnecessary petrochemicals. Arlene Blum, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blunt
Adjective
  • The abrupt cutoff of funds has led to a scramble to pay for food for malnourished children in Sudan, health care for refugees from Myanmar, and maternal health services in Yemen.
    Chen Reis, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Cool, calm weather can extend the length of the bloom, and a rainy, windy day can bring an abrupt end to the ephemeral blossoms.
    Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • And a charming atmosphere, reinforced by a warm visual language (Marc Spicer serves as DP), dulls the creepiness of those early drops.
    Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Contrast this with summer, where vacation mode dulls urgency, or winter, where holiday fatigue and short days can sap enthusiasm, spring hits a psychological sweet spot.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In addition, short biographies of notable Black, Hispanic, and female veterans, as well as information on the lives of the Tuskegee Airmen are no longer accessible on the website.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 17 Mar. 2025
  • With the wind in such short supply, the race committee ordered all teams to leave two of their crew on the dock.
    Andrew Rice, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • These layoffs reduced staffing at some local weather forecast offices to threadbare levels, causing some to reduce their services.
    Andrew Freedman, Axios, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Although reducing the property tax burden could provide significant benefits to business owners and homeowners, there’s no guarantee that landlords would pass those savings on to their tenants.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a gruff and garrulous baseball pitching and hitting machine called Pop Fly (Brian Cox).
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
  • In The Empire’s frame, residents of a coastal village in northern France — gruff, virile fisherman Jony (Brandon Vlieghe) and teenage tease Line (Lyna Khoudri) — reveal their oddball allegiance to extraterrestrial invaders.
    Armond White, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Your healthcare provider will give you local anesthesia, usually by injecting a numbing medication into the toe.
    Carrie Madormo, RN, Health, 20 Mar. 2025
  • These symptoms may be due to a numbing effect of benzonatate throughout the body after chewing or sucking the capsule.
    Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Scheer was smart to whittle down the novel’s winding sentences into short, sharp exclamations and curt instructions — and also to be faithful to Melville’s rendition of the captain’s irritable diction.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
  • There were abrasive, curt interviews with the media.
    Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Duckworth, herself a disabled veteran, has been particularly outspoken, calling the Administration’s actions a betrayal.
    Nik Popli, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The actress, whose big break came in another big musical, the remake of West Side Story, has drawn her own controversy for being a little bit outspoken, there is that.
    Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 20 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blunt. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on blunt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!