'Correctness' in English is usage- rather than logic-driven, though most would concede that communicating accurately should be prioritised. Thus the argument that 'a blunt response' can *arguably mean near enough the same as 'a sharp response' (so 'blunt' and 'sharp' are synonyms as well as, obviously, antonyms when used to describe cutting edges or points) is not in itself sufficient to warrant a change in practice.

Looking at the first-listed senses of 'blunt' in various non-historical dictionaries (to show hopefully the most common sense), we find:

• If you are blunt, you say exactly what you think without trying to be polite. [Collins]
• A blunt pencil, knife, etc. is not sharp and therefore not able to write, cut, etc. well. [Cambridge Dictionary]
• saying what is true or what you think, even if this offends or upsets people [Macmillan]
• not sharp or pointed [Longman]
• Having a dull edge or end; not sharp. [AHD]
• without a sharp edge or point: a blunt knife [OLD]

So on balance, the default sense would seem to be the physical usage. So some might prefer to select a less polysemous alternative for the 'being abrupt and often disconcertingly frank in speech' (AHD) sense, say 'to the point' (!} ... 'forthright' ... 'bluff' ... 'indelicate' ... ... 'in-your-face' (I've attempted to grade these, least confrontational to most).

However,

1a. All the above dictionaries, plus the historical ones such as Merriam-Webster, carry the 'forthright' sense, listing it first or second, so it is not incorrect per se to use the word with this meaning. 2a. We will meet these different usages, and a knee-jerk reaction will be of little value. 2. The 'forthright' sense when used is often forced or at least strongly suggested by context; thus "A 'blunt' statement is when someone says things to the point and factual [even if this offends or upsets people]". A blunt chisel obviously uses another sense. Many words are polysemous, some very much so. Yes, their use should be judicious, but is very common. Contranyms such as 'let', 'sanction' and more recently 'wicked' are usually seen as interesting rather than dangerous beasts.

• 'Blunt' when applied to speech ([Collins] overlaps in meaning with 'clarity', being the opposite of 'over-elaborate / [overly] euphemistic' (https://www.thefreedictionary.com/blunt) has 'straightforward and uncomplicated' as one subsense).

'Correctness' in English is usage- rather than logic-driven, though most would concede that communicating accurately should be prioritised. Thus the argument that 'a blunt response' can *arguably mean near enough the same as 'a sharp response' (so 'blunt' and 'sharp' are synonyms as well as, obviously, antonyms, having opposite meanings when used to describe cutting edges or points) is not in itself sufficient to warrant a change in practice.

Looking at the first-listed senses of 'blunt' in various non-historical dictionaries (to show hopefully the most common sense), we find:

• If you are blunt, you say exactly what you think without trying to be polite. [Collins]
• A blunt pencil, knife, etc. is not sharp and therefore not able to write, cut, etc. well. [Cambridge Dictionary]
• saying what is true or what you think, even if this offends or upsets people [Macmillan]
• not sharp or pointed [Longman]
• Having a dull edge or end; not sharp. [AHD]
• without a sharp edge or point: a blunt knife [OLD]

So on balance, the default sense would seem to be the physical usage. So some might prefer to select a less polysemous alternative for the 'being abrupt and often disconcertingly frank in speech' (AHD) sense, say 'to the point' (!} ... 'forthright' ... 'bluff' ... 'indelicate' ... ... 'in-your-face' (I've attempted to grade these, least confrontational to most).

However,

1a. All the above dictionaries, plus the historical ones such as Merriam-Webster, carry the 'forthright' sense, listing it first or second, so it is not incorrect per se to use the word with this meaning. 2a. We will meet these different usages, and a knee-jerk reaction will be of little value. 2. The 'forthright' sense when used is often forced or at least strongly suggested by context; thus "A 'blunt' statement is when someone says things to the point and factual [even if this offends or upsets people]". A blunt chisel obviously uses another sense. Many words are polysemous, some very much so. Yes, their use should be judicious, but is very common. Contranyms such as 'let', 'sanction' and more recently 'wicked' are usually seen as interesting rather than dangerous beasts.

• 'Blunt' when applied to speech ([Collins] overlaps in meaning with 'clarity', being the opposite of 'over-elaborate / [overly] euphemistic' (https://www.thefreedictionary.com/blunt) has 'straightforward and uncomplicated' as one subsense). And 'blunt' is defined as meaning 'direct' in say Merriam-Webster: blunt: 'being straight to the point: direct'

'Correctness' in English is usage- rather than logic-driven, though most would concede that communicating accurately should be prioritised. Thus the argument that 'a blunt response' can mean near enough the same as 'a sharp response' (so 'blunt' and 'sharp' are synonyms as well as, obviously, antonyms when used to describe cutting edges or points) is not in itself sufficient to warrant a change in practice.

Looking at the first-listed senses of 'blunt' in various non-historical dictionaries (to show hopefully the most common sense), we find:

• If you are blunt, you say exactly what you think without trying to be polite. [Collins]
• A blunt pencil, knife, etc. is not sharp and therefore not able to write, cut, etc. well. [Cambridge Dictionary]
• saying what is true or what you think, even if this offends or upsets people [Macmillan]
• not sharp or pointed [Longman]
• Having a dull edge or end; not sharp.[AHD]
• without a sharp edge or point: a blunt knife [OLD]

So on balance, the default sense would seem to be the physical usage. So some might prefer to select a less polysemous alternative for the 'being abrupt and often disconcertingly frank in speech' (AHD) sense, say 'to the point' (!} ... 'forthright' ... 'bluff' ... 'indelicate' ... ... 'in-your-face' (I've attempted to grade these, least confrontational to most).

However,

1a. All the above dictionaries, plus the historical ones such as Merriam-Webster, carry the 'forthright' sense, listing it first or second, so it is not incorrect per se to use the word with this meaning. 2a. We will meet these different usages, and a knee-jerk reaction will be of little value. 2. The 'forthright' sense when used is often forced or at least strongly suggested by context; thus "A 'blunt' statement is when someone says things to the point and factual [even if this offends or upsets people]". A blunt chisel obviously uses another sense. Many words are polysemous, some very much so. Yes, their use should be judicious, but is very common. Contranyms such as 'let', 'sanction' and more recently 'wicked' are usually seen as interesting rather than dangerous beasts.

'Correctness' in English is usage- rather than logic-driven, though most would concede that communicating accurately should be prioritised. Thus the argument that 'a blunt response' can *arguably mean near enough the same as 'a sharp response' (so 'blunt' and 'sharp' are synonyms as well as, obviously, antonyms when used to describe cutting edges or points) is not in itself sufficient to warrant a change in practice.

Looking at the first-listed senses of 'blunt' in various non-historical dictionaries (to show hopefully the most common sense), we find:

• If you are blunt, you say exactly what you think without trying to be polite. [Collins]
• A blunt pencil, knife, etc. is not sharp and therefore not able to write, cut, etc. well. [Cambridge Dictionary]
• saying what is true or what you think, even if this offends or upsets people [Macmillan]
• not sharp or pointed [Longman]
• Having a dull edge or end; not sharp. [AHD]
• without a sharp edge or point: a blunt knife [OLD]

So on balance, the default sense would seem to be the physical usage. So some might prefer to select a less polysemous alternative for the 'being abrupt and often disconcertingly frank in speech' (AHD) sense, say 'to the point' (!} ... 'forthright' ... 'bluff' ... 'indelicate' ... ... 'in-your-face' (I've attempted to grade these, least confrontational to most).

However,

1a. All the above dictionaries, plus the historical ones such as Merriam-Webster, carry the 'forthright' sense, listing it first or second, so it is not incorrect per se to use the word with this meaning. 2a. We will meet these different usages, and a knee-jerk reaction will be of little value. 2. The 'forthright' sense when used is often forced or at least strongly suggested by context; thus "A 'blunt' statement is when someone says things to the point and factual [even if this offends or upsets people]". A blunt chisel obviously uses another sense. Many words are polysemous, some very much so. Yes, their use should be judicious, but is very common. Contranyms such as 'let', 'sanction' and more recently 'wicked' are usually seen as interesting rather than dangerous beasts.

• 'Blunt' when applied to speech ([Collins] overlaps in meaning with 'clarity', being the opposite of 'over-elaborate / [overly] euphemistic' (https://www.thefreedictionary.com/blunt) has 'straightforward and uncomplicated' as one subsense).