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
Jamie Siebrase, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025
The Olympian shared a photo of him post-question-pop on Instagram, showing the two of them kissing on said bluffs (with her ring on full display).
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
The art of bluffing in itself, which is what the movie is all about, isn’t something to be flippant about.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 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
On weekends, Stark’s family biked through a magical corridor to reach Minnehaha Falls Regional Park, with its stunning limestone bluffs and beloved 53-foot waterfall.
—Jamie Siebrase, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025
The Olympian shared a photo of him post-question-pop on Instagram, showing the two of them kissing on said bluffs (with her ring on full display).
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Verb
He was stunned the Avs weren’t bluffing and actually traded him.
—Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
The art of bluffing in itself, which is what the movie is all about, isn’t something to be flippant about.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bluff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluff
Adjective
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Honesty without emotional attunement can become a weapon in relationships, with truth being used as blunt force, not a bridge for connection.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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What to watch: In Europe and Canada — two of America's largest trading partners — officials have been blunt about the realities of a global system where the United States is less prominent.—
Axios,
Axios,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Researchers uncovered the tomb at the mountain, at the base of a high desert cliff where strong winds carry gusts of sand.—
Alan Yuhas,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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The burial chamber was uncovered at the base of a desert cliff almost 23 feet beneath Abydos, one of Egypt’s oldest cities about 300 miles south of Cairo and roughly six miles from the Nile River.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But don't let the name fool you, Murderbot isn't actually the frightening story of a dangerous security robot.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Then, as if anyone was fooled, the talk show host pulled off his hat, wig and snap-on nose and lip piercings and Sheeran pulled of his wig to reveal his signature carrot top to shouts of joy.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Rick, who pretended to be a film producer to weasel his way into the home of Jim and Sritala (Lek Patravadi) and confront Jim over potentially murdering his father.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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In the post, Oscar can be seen jumping into the ocean into his dad's arms, pretending to fly a plane, smiling with his mom Tana and cheesing on a blue truck.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Morgan Wallen will not miss making an extra buck after his abrupt Saturday Night Live exit moment went viral.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2025
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Following Punk's abrupt WWE departure after the Royal Rumble, Heyman was tasked with addressing the difficult Chicago crowd on the March 3rd edition of Raw, all while Punk's future remained uncertain.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The rim is a 1,200-foot-tall escarpment that rises dramatically above a broad valley, giving you the perfect perch for spotting the show.—
Graham Averill,
Outside Online,
3 Mar. 2025
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During that time, the rover traveled about 1.2 miles along escarpments researchers believe were once part of an ocean shore 4 billion years ago.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Big Cat turned the tables on all those trolls for April Fool's Day and tricked plenty of them.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
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For example, Russian operatives reportedly tricked Ukrainian troops into giving access to their Signal accounts.—
Frederick Scholl,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Using grand feu enamel to simulate drips of nail polish has to be a first in high watchmaking, and who but a high-fashion brand to pioneer the art form?—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
1 Apr. 2025
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By turning the water temperature to freezing, the process simulates when amphibians and reptiles conserve energy in the winter, when food is scarce and temperatures are low.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bluff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluff. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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