— bluntly , adv. — bluntness , n.
/blunt/ , adj., blunter, bluntest , v. , n.
adj.
1. having an obtuse, thick, or dull edge or point; rounded; not sharp: a blunt pencil.
2. abrupt in address or manner: a blunt, ill-timed question.
3. slow in perception or understanding; obtuse: His isolation has made him blunt about the feelings of others.
v.t.
4. to make blunt; hebetate: He blunted the knife by using it to cut linoleum.
5. to weaken or impair the force, keenness, or susceptibility of: Wine first excites, then blunts the imagination.
v.i.
6. to become blunt.
n.
7. something blunt, as a small-game arrow, a short sewing needle, or a short, thick cigar.
8. Slang. a cigar stuffed with marijuana.
[ 1150-1200; ME; perh. akin to BLIND ]
Syn. 1. See dull. 2. short, gruff, rough, rude, uncivil, impolite. BLUNT, BLUFF, BRUSQUE, CURT characterize manners and speech. BLUNT suggests lack of polish and of regard for the feelings of others: blunt and tactless. BLUFF implies an unintentional roughness together with so much good-natured heartiness that others rarely take offense: a bluff sea captain. BRUSQUE connotes sharpness and abruptness of speech or manner: a brusque denial. CURT applies esp. to disconcertingly concise language: a curt reply. 3. dimwitted, thick, stolid. 4. dull.