Skip to main content
bluffly

bluffly

1 8.0
In a direct, sometimes abrupt way that shows little patience
  • adverb
  • /ˈblʌfli/
: directamente
  • He bluffly told the committee exactly what he thought of their proposal.

Examples

  • She answered bluffly, making it clear she had no patience for small talk.

  • The manager responded bluffly to the difficult question, refusing to sugarcoat his opinion.

  • She spoke bluffly about her plans for the future.

  • He answered bluffly, leaving no room for discussion.

  • She answered the question bluffly, not caring about the feelings of others.

  • He made his point bluffly, cutting through the nonsense immediately.

  • The manager spoke bluffly to the team, expecting them to understand the urgency.

Synonyms

flat
vsbluffly
158 4.4

In a direct and blunt way

is usually harsher and can be more abrupt than that candidness
directly
vsbluffly
106 1.4

In a clear honest way, saying what you think

is harsher and sometimes more abrupt than that straightforward openness
flat out
vsbluffly
  • Informal
85 7.0

To say something plainly without hiding feelings

is similar but often sounds more abrupt or rough
bluntly
vsbluffly
36 4.6

In a direct way that is not polite

is similarly direct but can be more abruptly forceful
point blank
vsbluffly
  • Informal
35 5.0

In a very direct way without trying to hide anything

is sometimes more abrupt and less polite than that direct statement
flatly
vsbluffly
35 4.6

In a firm way that shows no doubt

is harsher and more about abrupt force than mere certainty
candidly
vsbluffly
25 4.1

In an honest, direct way without hiding your true thoughts

is harsher and more abrupt than that open honesty
outright
vsbluffly
20 4.3

Directly and openly, without hiding or delay

is rougher and more likely to sound abrupt than that open saying
unceremoniously
vsbluffly
8 6.5

In a sudden, rude way without warning or politeness

focuses on directness and abruptness rather than removing ceremony
forthrightly
vsbluffly
6 6.7

In a direct and honest way without hiding anything

is harsher and more abrupt rather than only honest directness
straightforwardly
vsbluffly
5 3.9

In a clear, honest way without hiding anything

is rougher and often more abrupt than that neutral directness
curtly
vsbluffly
4 6.0

In a short, rude way that shows you are annoyed

is more about bluntness and sometimes harsher than mere brevity
gruffly
vsbluffly
3 6.3

Talk in a rough, unfriendly way

is direct but not always unfriendly, focusing on plain honesty
tersely
vsbluffly
3 6.4

In a short, direct way that uses few words

is more forceful and about roughness rather than just brevity
baldly
vsbluffly
3 7.2

In a plain, direct way that does not make bad news seem softer

is usually rougher and more abrupt than that plain stating
brusquely
vsbluffly
3 7.4

In a short, rude way that shows little patience

is direct but sometimes harsher and more forceful than that curt manner
short
vsbluffly
2 6.1

In a rude, abrupt way

is direct and forceful rather than only discourteous shortness
outrightly
vsbluffly
1 6.0

In a complete and direct way, without any doubt

is similar but can sound harsher or more abrupt in tone
shortly
vsbluffly
1 4.5

In a rude, quick way that stops the conversation

is more about plain honesty and sometimes rougher than that curtness
straight-from-the-shoulder
vsbluffly
  • Informal
7.7

Direct and honest in speech that does not hide what you think

is rougher and more abrupt than that frank directness

Antonyms

4 4.4

In a careful, kind way when talking to avoid hurting someone's feelings

How Blunt

abruptly
108 3.3
brusquely
3 7.4
bluffly
1 8.0
directly
106 1.4
politely
97 1.0
gently
324 1.0

Surface Forms

bluffly positive

Morphology

bluffly = bluff (transparent) = bluff + ly

Standard adverbial formation from the adjective 'bluff' by adding '-ly', so the meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

Bluffly comes from the common English word bluff plus the ending -ly, which makes it an adverb. Bluff means 'blunt' or 'direct', like someone who speaks straight and a little rough, so bluffly means 'in a blunt, direct way'.