adjective
blunt
bluhnt
adjective
1
Not sharp; having a thick edge or point.
"The knife was too blunt to cut the bread."
2
Direct and plain-spoken, sometimes to the point of rudeness.
"She gave a blunt assessment of what had gone wrong."
noun
1
Slang for a cigar hollowed out and refilled with marijuana.
"They passed a blunt around at the party."
verb
1
To make something less sharp or effective.
"The medication helped blunt the worst of the pain."
How to Use Blunt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot sharp — physically, or in speech (meaning direct and to the point).
Common mistake
Being "blunt" in speech means honest and direct, not necessarily rude, though it can come across that way.
Common pairings
blunt instrument
blunt honesty
to be blunt
Word Forms
blunter comparative, blunted past tense, blunts plural, Blunts plural, blunts singular, bluntest superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “blunt”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The knife was too _____ to cut the bread.
Etymology
From Middle English blunt, of uncertain origin, possibly related to Old Norse blunda ("to doze").