[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/blunt/)

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# blunt

adjective (blunt, blunter, bluntest); verb (blunt, blunts, blunted, blunting)

«blunt» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Not sharp; having an edge or point that does not cut well. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blunt/#m1)
2. Saying what you think very directly, without trying to be polite. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blunt/#m2)
3. As a verb, to make less sharp. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blunt/#m3)

### In the lessons

In safety lessons, children use scissors with blunt (rounded) ends. In cooking, a blunt knife can be more dangerous because it slips. In manners lessons, being blunt can hurt feelings, so we try to be honest but kind. Phrases: blunt pencil, blunt knife, blunt scissors, to be blunt, blunt end.

### Examples

- My pencil is blunt; I need to sharpen it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blunt/#x1)
- Young children use scissors with blunt ends. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blunt/#x2)
- A blunt knife can slip and cut you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blunt/#x3)
- To be blunt, your story was too long. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blunt/#x4)
- She gave a blunt answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blunt/#x5)
- Cutting the cardboard blunted the scissors. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blunt/#x6)
- He is no tree trunk to sharpen thy blunt claws upon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blunt/#x7)

### Note

Comparatives: blunter, bluntest. The opposite is "sharp". "Bluntly" means very directly. Kindness: you can be truthful without being blunt.

## In Jewish tradition

In Ecclesiastes it describes an iron tool whose edge is dull, so it takes more strength to use.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads it as a lesson that wisdom saves effort: a wise person prepares well and works smarter, not only harder.

### Examples

- If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct. (Writings ECC.10.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/blunt/#x1)

### Note

Comparatives: blunter, bluntest. The opposite is "sharp". "Bluntly" means very directly. Kindness: you can be truthful without being blunt.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «blunt» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/blunt/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«blunt» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/blunt.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «blunt» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/blunt/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«blunt» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/blunt.html) on Mova free.