noun
- plural of bluffness; the quality or state of being bluff (direct, frank, and somewhat abrupt in manner or speech)
- plural of bluffness; the quality of being bluff (having a broad, steep front, as a cliff or headland)
Usage: countable and uncountable uses; often appears in formal or literary contexts
Usage: nautical or geographical; less common than the first sense
Examples
- The captain's bluffnesses in addressing the crew sometimes offended the more sensitive sailors.
- Her bluffnesses made her unpopular at diplomatic functions, where subtlety was valued.
- The bluffnesses of the coastal cliffs made them a striking landmark.
- Despite his bluffnesses, people respected his honesty and straightforward approach.
- The various bluffnesses of his personality emerged in different social settings.