unsharp
unsharp Lexical Profile
unsharp Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Lacking clear visual definition or crispness; slightly blurred or out of focus (especially of an optical image or photograph).
"Because the camera shook during the long exposure, the resulting landscape photograph was noticeably unsharp."
Not having a keen cutting edge or fine point; blunt or dull.
"Trying to chop vegetables with an unsharp knife actually increases the risk of accidental slips in the kitchen."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern usage, 'unsharp' is most frequently encountered in photography and digital image processing (notably in the phrase 'unsharp mask') rather than to describe physical blades, for which 'blunt' or 'dull' is standard.
• Rhymes for unsharp
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'unscearp', formed from the privative prefix 'un-' and 'scearp' (sharp).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.