# blunt

/ˈbɫənt/ (US) · /blˈʌnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blunt
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. not sharp

adjective · CEFR B2

having an edge or point that is not sharp.

For teachers: lacking a sharp edge or point; physically dull.

- The blunt knife struggled to cut through the tough skin of the tomato.
- Using a blunt chisel for fine woodwork is not only inefficient but also increases the risk of the tool slipping and causing injury.

### 2. direct in speech

adjective · CEFR B2

saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite.

For teachers: abrupt in manner or speech; characterized by directness that may border on rudeness.

- To be blunt, I don't think your plan is going to work.
- Her blunt assessment of the company's failings offended the executives, though most employees privately agreed with her observations.

### 4. marijuana cigar

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English

a cigar that has been emptied and refilled with marijuana.

For teachers: a cigar hollowed out and filled with cannabis; common in hip-hop culture and urban slang.

- The security guards caught a group of teenagers smoking a blunt behind the stadium.
- References to rolling a blunt are frequent in the lyrics of early nineties West Coast rap music.

Usage: Countable noun.

## Examples

- She was very blunt about why she didn't like my idea.
- The manager gave some blunt feedback during the meeting, telling the team their recent performance was unacceptable.
- While his blunt assessment of the company's finances was difficult for the board to hear, it provided the necessary clarity to begin a realistic restructuring process.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.