as in blunt
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner
he's a bluff but good-hearted teacher
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to fool
to cause to believe what is untrue
I bluffed the interviewer into believing that I could really speak French and thus would be the perfect person to serve in the newspaper's Paris bureau
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of
the basketball player bluffed a shot, then passed instead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bluff
Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
Though the Explorer majors much more on practicality, somehow Ford has managed to turn a fairly bluff front-end styling and generally boxy silhouette familiar to properly sensible family SUV into an attractive design.
—WIRED, 21 Mar. 2023
Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 June 2025
Case in point: Tamarind Hills Resort and Villas on an oceanfront bluff in Antigua is offering up to 35 percent off its Tamarind Studios from July through October, with perks like breakfast and private Jacuzzis.
—Laura Begley Bloom, AFAR Media, 13 June 2025
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Count My Lies centers on compulsive liar Sloane Caraway, who bluffs her way into a job as a nanny for a gorgeous and charismatic couple, Violet and Jay Lockhart.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bluff
Adjective
One day in 2010, an e-mail from Steve Wentzel, the Zimbabwean tycoon, arrived in the in-box of one of South Pole’s founders—a tall, bluff German man named Christian Dannecker.
—Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
Though the Explorer majors much more on practicality, somehow Ford has managed to turn a fairly bluff front-end styling and generally boxy silhouette familiar to properly sensible family SUV into an attractive design.
—WIRED, 21 Mar. 2023
Noun
Early in 2017, the eight-bedroom, nine-bath Colonial-style respite sits on a high bluff at the end of a private road.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 June 2025
Case in point: Tamarind Hills Resort and Villas on an oceanfront bluff in Antigua is offering up to 35 percent off its Tamarind Studios from July through October, with perks like breakfast and private Jacuzzis.
—Laura Begley Bloom, AFAR Media, 13 June 2025
Verb
President Donald Trump has stripped down and distorted the lessons of the late statesman into a crude, transactional, impulsive worldview that mistakes bluffing for strength and coercion for strategy.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Count My Lies centers on compulsive liar Sloane Caraway, who bluffs her way into a job as a nanny for a gorgeous and charismatic couple, Violet and Jay Lockhart.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bluff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluff
Adjective
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In other words — not to be too blunt about it — employers took responsibility for training their workers to work for them.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
5 July 2025
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The man identified as Moore-Hodges walked away from the park around 3:50 a.m. According to the complaint, an autopsy on June 30 affirmed the victim died of multiple blunt force injuries to his head and neck.—
Ariela Lopez,
jsonline.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
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The early morning temple grounds are green and quiet, stacks of stone carvings lean against each other inside tall alcoves carved out of the cliff by centuries of water.—
Rebecca Chace
July 14,
Literary Hub,
14 July 2025
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Looking Forward Merck’s acquisition strategy reflects management’s understanding of the Keytruda cliff and their determination to address it.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
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His impersonation is so convincing that Lu and Shin are initially fooled.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
14 July 2025
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The Mets couldn’t pick up his slider and were fooled on his changeup.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
13 July 2025
Verb
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The scams might start out with a text from someone pretending to be a government official, such as a local sheriff.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
10 July 2025
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Your audience sees through attempts to brag while pretending to be humble.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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There are subtle transitions in this narrative, carefully plotted points of reference which keep the story from ever feeling disjointed or abrupt.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
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In an abrupt June 23 announcement—only two months after the deal was unveiled—Novo Nordisk severed the partnership.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Noun
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With that enormous amount of moisture serving as fuel, the winds hitting the escarpment in West Texas served as a kind of match that started the storms.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
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As sunrise paints the rocks crimson only the call of baboons echoing between rocky escarpments punctuates the silence.—
Chloe Berge,
Outside Online,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Luckily for Marian, much of Bertha’s attention is stolen by the unexpected arrival of her unsophisticated sister; Bertha’s too busy making snide comments and tricking her into wearing nicer gowns to even bother with Marian.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
13 July 2025
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The offense is built on outside runs and tricking the defense.—
Ted Nguyen,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Much like a band might bring in a touring musician to test chemistry and capability before offering a permanent spot, businesses are using interim roles to simulate the pressure of the top job.—
Rhett Power,
Rolling Stone,
15 July 2025
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Miami’s public-school system, one of the largest in the country, has made Gemini available to more than 100,000 high schoolers; teachers there are using it to simulate interactions with historical figures and provide immediate feedback on assignments.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bluff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluff. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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