BLUNTNESS Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

bluntness

noun

as in honesty

the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions the refreshing bluntness of the former president in assessing those who followed him in the Oval Office

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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 bluntness Slot, as head coach, was more of a middle manager; someone who acted with the objectivity of a civil servant and the occasional bluntness of a corrections officer. —

Simon Hughes, New York Times, 30 May 2026 Rise and fall But Healy, with her characteristic bluntness, didn’t sugar-coat what happened to that law. —

Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026 If a culture prizes bluntness, ask where honesty has been missing. —

Sarah Davanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026 But the bluntness of the lyrics arrives just as quickly, undercutting the atmosphere by naming too plainly what the music had already begun to evoke with greater force. —

Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026 Queen Elizabeth loved Kelly’s pragmatic bluntness and viewed her as an incredibly loyal friend. —

Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026 Inspired by the super cropped bobs of the roaring 1920s, the French bob is similar to a one-length short bob, but sans any harsh bluntness. —

Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2026 Close is known for her bluntness and passion that has endeared her to fans and to her players. —

Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 5 Apr. 2026 She’s built a career on candid takes about relationships, work and the absurdities of everyday life, delivered with her trademark mix of bluntness and charm. —

Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluntness

Noun

The qualities that sustain healthy families, including honesty, accountability, forgiveness, and sacrifice, cannot be purchased or given.

— David H. Rosmarin, Time, 10 June 2026
The focus was on honesty in materials and construction, simple forms, and harmonious indoor-outdoor spaces, with plenty of room left over for personal flourishes that reflected the spirit of the site and lifestyle of the young family, including their 5-year-old daughter, Stevie.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 9 June 2026