Words / B2

BLUNT/blʌnt/

Blunt means not sharp, or very direct in speech: a blunt pencil; a blunt warning; blunt about. Direct is a close twin for speech; rude is stronger. Sharp is an opposite for tools and sometimes for tone. Auditors’ blunt notes on sample size. Do not call a kind hedge blunt.

Meaning

Not sharp; also very direct in speech, sometimes rude.

Examples

• “The auditor’s blunt note said the sample was too small to publish.”
• “The scissors were blunt, which is why the props failed.”

Good to know

a blunt warning / instrument; blunt about. Speech twin: direct. Stronger: rude. Tools: not sharp. Metaphor: a blunt instrument (a crude policy).

Near in meaning

direct

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