Hanako called his bluff.
Source: tatoeba (23711)
Bluff
/blʌf/
Synonyms for "bluff" (449 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (90)
abruptactact a partactingaffableaffectaffectationaggressiveappearanceapproachableartful dodgeartificeartlessassumeattitudinizingbag of tricksbamboozlebarefacedbearishbeastly
Show 61 more words
beguilebetraybiggetybitchblackjackblagueurblatherskiteblindbluff offblufferbluffingbluntblunt-edgedblunt-endedblunt-pointedbluntedbluntishblusterbluster and bluffblustererblusteringboastfulnessboastingboldbombastborn yesterdayboseybouncebragbraggartbraggingbrashbravadobravobreakneckbridgebriefbroadbrusquebuckobullshitbullybullyboybullyingbustlecajolecandidcatchcavaliercharlatancheat oncheatingcheekychicanerychildlikechousechurlishchutzpadikcircumventcliffcocky
Verb(2 words)
bluff outbullshitted
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (135)
colorcoloringconfidingconjurecontemptuouscounterfeitcover upcozencragcrudecrustycurtcurvecurve-balldeceivedeceptiondeludedelusionderisivedesign
Show 102 more words
devicediddledirectdirty dealdirty trickdisguisedisrespectfuldissemblancedissembledissemblingdissimulatedissimulationdodgedouble crossdouble-crossdownrightdulldull-edgeddull-pointeddulleddullishdupeedgelessescarpmentexplicitfacadefacefacyfairedfakefakerfakeryfakingfalse airfalse frontfalse showfalsityfanfaronfanfaronadefast dealfeignfeigningfeintfetchficellefinesseflipflippantflurryflusterfoolforestallforthrightfour-flushfour-flushingfourflusherfrankfrankheartedfraudfreefree spokenfree-speakingfree-spokenfree-tonguedfreshfriendlyfrighten offfrontfussgallygambitgamegammongasconadegenuineget aroundgiltgimmickglossgo through the motionsgood-naturedgooglygratuitousgruffguilelessgullharshheadlandheadlongheart-to-heartheartyhectorhectorerhectoringheightherodhoaxhocus pocushocus-pocushonesthoodwinkhornswaggle
Noun(13 words)
deceivedeceptiondirectdisplay confidenceescarpmentescarpmentsfakefeignfeign certaintyfeintfeintingfour flushfrank
Related words (224)
hot airhumbughumbuggeryimpersonatorimpertinentimpostorimpostureimpudentingenuingenuousinnocentintimidateintimidationjokejokerjugglekidlaconiclet downlet on
Show 189 more words
let on likemake a pretensemake a show ofmake as ifmake believemake likemalapertmalingerermasquerademeretriciousnessmisleadmockmountainmountebanknaivenervyno-nonsenseobtuseopenopenheartedostentationout-herod herodoutmaneuveroutreachoutsmartoutspokenoutward showoutwitoverreachpalisadepalisadespasspertphonypigeonplainplain spokenplain-spokenplainspokenplayplay a partplay one falseplay possumplayactplayactingployplungingpointlessposeposerposeurposingpostureprecipiceprecipitouspresuppositionpretendpretenderpretensepretensionpretextprofesspromontorypufferypull a fast oneput onput something overput to flightquackquacksalverquacksterragerantranterrapidraveraverrepresentationringerrodomontaderoisterroistererrollickroughroundroundedruderusesaltimbancosassysaucyscarscare awayscarpschemescurvy trickseemingsemblancesevereshamshammersharpsheershiftshortshort-temperedshowsidesimplesimpleheartedsimplemindedsimulacrumsimulatesimulationsinceresingle mindedsingle-heartedsingle-mindedslangsleightsleight of handsleight-of-hand tricksmartsmart aleckysmart asssmart-aleckysmart-asssmoothedsnippetysnippysnowspeciousnessspluttersputtersteepstormstraightstraight outstraight-outstraightforwardstratagemstringstring alongsubterfugesurlyswaggerswaggererswashbuckleswashbucklerswashbuckleryswashertactlesstake intarttemperamentalterseto the pointtransparenttricktruculenttrustfultrustingtwo timetwo-timeuncalled foruncalled-foruncheckedunconstrainedunedgedunequivocalungraciousunguardedunpointedunreservedunrestrainedunsharpunsharpenedunsophisticatedunsuspiciousunwaryvaporvaporervarnishverticalwallwilewindow dressingwise asswise-ass
Noun(13 words)
liemisrepresentprecipicesprecipitouspretendpretend confidencepretenseprofessingproject confidencepsychingshammingsheersteep
Adjective(2 words)
sheersteep bank
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abrupt, act, act a part, acting, affable.
- Sentence evidence is available for bluff, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "bluff".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "bluff"
Keep "bluff" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "bluff" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "bluff", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "bluff" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
20 entriesShowing 16 of 20 words.
More specific
16 entriesCollocations
13 entriesbluff coastbluff erosionbluff facebluff rangebluffing strategycard game bluffcoastal bluffhigh bluffpoker bluffriver bluffsteep bluffstrategic bluffverbal bluff
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
8 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
33 total sentences available.
She was tempted to call his bluff, hardly believing that he would carry out his threat.
Source: tatoeba (619773)
As I stood upon the bluff before my cottage on that clear cold night in the early part of March, 1886, the noble Hudson flowing like the grey and silent spectre of a dead river below me, I felt again the strange, compelling influence of the mighty god of war, my beloved Mars, which for ten long and lonesome years I had implored with outstretched arms to carry me back to my lost love.
Source: tatoeba (1482477)
We can't call their bluff.
Source: tatoeba (1951380)
Showing 4 of 33 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "bluff"?
Closest matches include abrupt, act, act a part, acting, affable.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "bluff"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.