Blunt
/blʌnt/
Definitions
3 meaningsHaving a dull edge or point; not sharp.
/blʌnt/
Having a dull edge or point.
The scissors were blunt and couldn't cut the paper.
💡 Simply: Not sharp
More Examples
He spoke in a blunt, direct manner.
How It's Used
"The knife was too blunt to cut the bread."
"The saw became blunt after many uses."
Direct and frank in speech or manner; not subtle.
/blʌnt/
Direct and frank in speech or manner.
Her blunt comments shocked everyone.
💡 Simply: Honest, but maybe a little rude.
More Examples
He was known for his blunt honesty.
How It's Used
"She gave him a blunt assessment of his work."
To make or become dull or less effective.
/blʌnt/
To make or become dull.
Years of use had blunted the tools.
💡 Simply: To make something less sharp
More Examples
The drug blunted the pain.
How It's Used
"The knife was blunted by cutting through bone."
Idioms & expressions
to be blunt with someone
To speak frankly and directly to someone, often about something unpleasant.
"I have to be blunt with you, this project is failing."
Middle English: from Old English blunt ‘dull, insensitive’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch blunt and German stumpf.
The word's use as a description of speech has evolved from a sense of being insensitive to being straightforward.
Memory tip
Think of a blunt pencil that won't write well.