blunt

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /blʌnt/ UK /blʌnt/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like brunt /l/ vs /r/

Meanings

1

adj
having a dull edge or point; direct and tactless in speech

She gave a blunt assessment of the failing project.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · having a dull edge or... dull obtuse direct frank curt brusque forthright outspoken

Opposites

sharp keen tactful diplomatic subtle

Word family

Derived forms bluntly bluntnessblunted

Etymology

From Middle English blunt, blont ('dull, obtuse'), of obscure origin, perhaps from Old Norse blunda ('to shut the eyes') with a sense of dullness or sleepiness.

blunt Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# blunt

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /blʌnt/
**IPA (UK):** /blʌnt/

## Meanings
1. having a dull edge or point; direct and tactless in speech

## Examples
- She gave a blunt assessment of the failing project.

## Synonyms
- dull
- obtuse
- direct
- frank
- curt
- brusque
- forthright
- outspoken

## Antonyms
- sharp
- keen
- tactful
- diplomatic
- subtle

## Derived Forms
- bluntly
- bluntness
- blunted

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: blunt

## Etymology
From Middle English blunt, blont ('dull, obtuse'), of obscure origin, perhaps from Old Norse blunda ('to shut the eyes') with a sense of dullness or sleepiness.

## AI Etymology
Blunt is from Middle English blunt, blont ('dull, obtuse'), of obscure origin, perhaps from Old Norse blunda ('to shut the eyes') with a sense of dullness or sleepiness. In present-day use, it means having a dull edge or point; direct and tactless in speech. Derived formations include bluntly, bluntness, and blunted.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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