blunt
He gave me a blunt answer about my poor performance.
He was honest and straightforward in telling me I performed poorly.
Not sharp or pointed; having a dull edge or point
The knife was so blunt that it couldn't cut through the bread.
The knife was dull and ineffective for cutting.
Commonly used to describe tools, weapons, or objects that lack sharpness.
Speaking in a direct, honest, and sometimes harsh way without trying to be polite
She was blunt about her dislike for the new policy.
She expressed her dislike openly and without softening her words.
Often implies a lack of tact but emphasizes honesty.
To make something less sharp or effective
Years of use have blunted the sword's edge.
The sword's edge has become dull over time.
Can also describe emotional or mental dulling, e.g., 'Grief blunted her senses.'
Collocations
Pro Tip
Avoiding Misuse
Don't confuse 'blunt' (direct/honest) with 'bluntly' (adverb form). 'Bluntly' is used to modify verbs (e.g., 'She spoke bluntly'), while 'blunt' describes the speaker's style (e.g., 'She is blunt').
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Use 'blunt' for objects when describing lack of sharpness. For people, it implies honesty but can sound rude—use with caution in formal settings.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'blont' (dull, stupid), likely from Old Norse 'blunt' (dull, stupid) or Middle Low German 'blunt' (blunt, dull). The figurative sense of 'direct and honest' emerged in the 17th century.
Usage Notes
As an adjective, 'blunt' can describe objects (e.g., a blunt pencil) or people's communication style. As a verb, it means to make something less sharp or effective, including metaphorically (e.g., 'The years blunted his ambition'). Avoid confusing with 'bluntly' (adverb) or 'bluntness' (noun).