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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Your audience sees through attempts to brag while pretending to be humble.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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At the time, he was asked why viewers should pay attention to a young actor pretending to be an undercover cop.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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However, her time in Fiji came to an abrupt end as shown during Episode 30, which aired on Sunday, July 6.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
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The third free practice at Silverstone saw two red flags in the final ten minutes, bringing the session to an abrupt halt.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Noun
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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
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Fun fact: The Pine Ridge is a 100-mile-long escarpment of sandstone bluffs and the main geologic feature of northwest Nebraska.—
Brian Higgins,
Outside Online,
20 May 2025
Verb
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Kyle and Kamilla couldn't believe their plan worked, while Joe wondered whether he and Eva had been tricked.—
David Wysong,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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Social engineering and phishing: Scammers trick users into giving away their contact information.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Sprinklers simulate rain, except that sprinkler heads often throw the water horizontally.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
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The whole structure could even be rotated to simulate the motion of the stars.—
Martin Bush,
Space.com,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bluff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluff. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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