blunt adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of blunt adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

blunt

adjective
 
/blʌnt/
 
/blʌnt/
(comparative blunter, superlative bluntest)
jump to other results
  1. without a sharp edge or point
    • a blunt knife
    • This pencil's blunt!
    • The police said he had been hit with a blunt instrument.
    opposite sharp
  2. (of a person or remark) very direct; saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite
    • She has a reputation for blunt speaking.
    • To be blunt, your work is appalling.
    Synonyms honesthonestfrank ▪ direct ▪ open ▪ outspoken ▪ straight ▪ bluntThese words all describe people saying exactly what they mean without trying to hide feelings, opinions or facts.honest not hiding the truth about something:
    • Thank you for being so honest with me.
    frank honest in what you say, sometimes in a way that other people might not like:
    • To be frank with you, I think your son has little chance of passing the exam.
    direct saying exactly what you mean in a way that nobody can pretend not to understand:
    • You’ll have to get used to his direct manner.
    Being direct is sometimes considered positive but sometimes it is used as a ‘polite’ way of saying that somebody is rude.    open (approving) (of a person) not keeping thoughts and feelings hidden:
    • He was quite open about his reasons for leaving.
    outspoken saying exactly what you think, even if this shocks or offends people:
    • She was outspoken in her criticism of the plan.
    straight honest and direct:
    • I don’t think you’re being straight with me.
    blunt saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite:
    • She has a reputation for blunt speaking.
    which word?
    • Honest and frank refer to what you say as much as how you say it:
      • a(n) honest/​frank admission of guilt.
      They are generally positive words, although it is possible to be too frank in a way that other people might not like. Direct, outspoken and blunt all describe somebody’s manner of saying what they think. Outspoken suggests that you are willing to shock people by saying what you believe to be right. Blunt and direct often suggest that you think honesty is more important than being polite. Open is positive and describes somebody’s character:
      • I’m a very open person.
    Patterns
    • honest/​frank/​direct/​open/​outspoken/​straight about something
    • honest/​frank/​direct/​open/​straight/​blunt with somebody
    • a(n) honest/​direct/​straight/​blunt answer
    • a frank/​direct/​blunt manner
    3. Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘dull, insensitive’): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse blunda ‘shut the eyes’.
See blunt in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee blunt in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: blunt

Nearby words

loom
verb
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
C1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day