blunt
1. make less intense (Freq. 1)
- blunted emotions
• Hypernyms:
weaken
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Something ----s something
2. make numb or insensitive
- The shock numbed her senses
• Syn:
numb, benumb, dull
• Hypernyms:
desensitize, desensitise
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Somebody ----s somebody
- Something ----s somebody
3. make dull or blunt
- Too much cutting dulls the knife's edge
• Syn:
dull
• Ant:
sharpen (for: dull)
• Hypernyms:
change, alter, modify
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Something ----s something
4. make less sharp
- blunt the knives
• Hypernyms:
change, alter, modify
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Something ----s something
5. make less lively, intense, or vigorous;
impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation
- Terror blunted her feelings
- deaden a sound
• Syn:
deaden
• Ant:
enliven (for: deaden)
• Derivationally related forms:
deadening (for: deaden)
• Hypernyms:
change, alter, modify
• Hyponyms:
obtund, petrify, dampen, damp, soften,
weaken, break
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Something ----s something
1. having a broad or rounded end (Freq. 1)
- thick marks made by a blunt pencil
• Similar to:
pointless, unpointed
• Derivationally related forms:
bluntness
2. used of a knife or other blade;
not sharp (Freq. 1)
- a blunt instrument
• Similar to:
dull
• Derivationally related forms:
bluntness
3. characterized by directness in manner or speech;
without subtlety or evasion (Freq. 1)
- blunt talking and straight shooting
- a blunt New England farmer
- I gave them my candid opinion
- forthright criticism
- a forthright approach to the problem
- tell me what you think--and you may just as well be frank
- it is possible to be outspoken without being rude
- plainspoken and to the point
- a point-blank accusation
• Syn:
candid, forthright, frank, free-spoken, outspoken,
plainspoken, point-blank, straight-from-the-shoulder
• Similar to:
direct
• Derivationally related forms:
outspokenness (for: outspoken), frankness (for: frank), forthrightness (for: forthright), candidness (for: candid), bluntness
4. devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment
- the blunt truth
- the crude facts
- facing the stark reality of the deadline
• Syn:
crude, stark
• Similar to:
unconditional, unconditioned
• Derivationally related forms:
starkness (for: stark)
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