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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Origin: | Perhaps from Old Norse blundr 'sleeping' |
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blunt1
1 not sharp or pointed [≠ sharp]: 
Sharpen all your blunt knives.a blunt pencil
Sharpen all your blunt knives.a blunt pencil2 speaking in an honest way even if this upsets people [↪ bluntly]: To be blunt, many of the candidates cannot read or write. Julian's blunt words hurt her.
To be blunt, many of the candidates cannot read or write.Julian's blunt words hurt her.3
blunt instrument
a) a heavy object that is used to hit someone : The victim suffered a blow to the head from a blunt instrument.
The victim suffered a blow to the head from a blunt instrument.b) a method of doing something that does not work very well because it has a lot of other effects which you do not want : The exams are a blunt instrument which will reveal little about children's abilities.
The exams are a blunt instrument which will reveal little about children's abilities. —bluntness noun [uncountable]
