| verb | make less intense “blunted emotions” |
| verb | make numb or insensitive “The shock numbed her senses” |
| verb | make dull or blunt “Too much cutting dulls the knife's edge” |
| verb | make less sharp “blunt the knives” |
| verb | make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation “Terror blunted her feelings” |
| adjective | having a broad or rounded end “thick marks made by a blunt pencil” |
| adjective | used of a knife or other blade; not sharp “a blunt instrument” |
| adjective | characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion “blunt talking and straight shooting” |
| adjective | devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment “the blunt truth” |
| deadening | noun | the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine) |
| bluntness | noun | without sharpness or clearness of edge or point |
| candidness | noun | the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech |
| forthrightness | noun | the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech |
| frankness | noun | the trait of being blunt and outspoken |
| outspokenness | noun | the trait of being blunt and outspoken |
| starkness | noun | the quality of being complete or utter or extreme |