BLUFF Synonyms: 196 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'bluff' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of bluff are blunt , brusque , crusty , curt , and gruff . While all these words mean "abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner," bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality. // a bluff manner

Q: When can 'blunt' be used instead of 'bluff'?

The meanings of blunt and bluff largely overlap; however, blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings. // a blunt appraisal

Q: When is it sensible to use 'brusque' instead of 'bluff'?

While the synonyms brusque and bluff are close in meaning, brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness. // a brusque response

Q: When might 'crusty' be a better fit than 'bluff'?

Although the words crusty and bluff have much in common, crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness. // a crusty exterior

Q: When would 'curt' be a good substitute for 'bluff'?

The words curt and bluff can be used in similar contexts, but curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness. // a curt command

Q: When could 'gruff' be used to replace 'bluff'?

In some situations, the words gruff and bluff are roughly equivalent. However, gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness. // puts on a gruff pose

bluff 1 of 3

adjective

ˈbləf

Definition of bluff next

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bluff

2 of 3

noun

as in cliff

a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice fossils embedded in a stone bluff that date from the Jurassic period

Synonyms & Similar Words

bluff

3 of 3

verb

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

as in to pretend

to present a false appearance of the basketball player bluffed a shot, then passed instead

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word bluff distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of bluff are blunt, brusque, crusty, curt, and gruff. While all these words mean "abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner," bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality.

a bluff manner

When can blunt be used instead of bluff?

The meanings of blunt and bluff largely overlap; however, blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings.

a blunt appraisal

When is it sensible to use brusque instead of bluff?

While the synonyms brusque and bluff are close in meaning, brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness.

a brusque response

When might crusty be a better fit than bluff?

Although the words crusty and bluff have much in common, crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness.

a crusty exterior

When would curt be a good substitute for bluff?

The words curt and bluff can be used in similar contexts, but curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness.

a curt command

When could gruff be used to replace bluff?

In some situations, the words gruff and bluff are roughly equivalent. However, gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness.

puts on a gruff pose

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of 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

The San Diego Association of Governments is also working to relocate corridor tracks away from susceptible Del Mar bluffs, a high-profile item in a November ballot measure for regional transportation projects. —

Andrew Keatts, Axios, 16 Sep. 2024 In an incident report, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said that Reven, who was operating the boat, and the 7 year old died after their boat struck a root and collided with a rock bluff on the Gasconade River in Osage County at 7 p.m. local time. —

Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2024

Verb

If Putin is bluffing, as Ukraine and some of its supporters believe, then the West may feel ready to deepen its military support for Kyiv regardless of Moscow's threats. —

Mark Trevelyan and Andrew Osborn, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024 Von Neumann and Morgenstern proved not only that an optimal strategy exists but also that bluffing is an essential part of that strategy. —

Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 16 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for bluff

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bluff

Adjective

The revelation, along with a blunt critique of then-President Donald Trump, quickly attracted media attention for its unfiltered nature.

David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
But despite the blunt warning about One Tree Hill, Lenz didn’t want to give up her pursuit of the show.

Shania Russell, EW.com, 21 Oct. 2024

Definition of blunt

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bluff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bluff. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 26 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

victuals

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Synonyms of bluff

adjective

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Examples Sentences

Thesaurus Entries Near bluff

Cite this Entry