OXFORD DICTIONARY
point-blank, adj. & adv.
--adj.
1 a (of a shot) aimed or fired horizontally at a range very close to the target. b (of a distance or range) very close.
2 (of a remark, question, etc.) blunt, direct.
--adv.
1 at very close range.
2 directly, bluntly.
prob. f. POINT + BLANK = white spot in the centre of a target
THESAURUS
point-blank
abrupt, abruptly, blunt, bluntly, candidly, categorical, categorically, close, direct, directly, downright, explicit, explicitly, flat, flatly, frankly, nearby, openly, outright, plainly, right away, short, straight, straightforward, to the point, unalloyed, uncompromising, uncompromisingly, unmitigated, unreserved, unreservedly
ROGET THESAURUS
point-blank
Plainness
N
plainness, simplicity, severity, plain terms, plain English, Saxon English, household words, plain, simple, unornamented, unadorned, unvarnished, homely, homespun, neat, severe, chaste, pure, Saxon, commonplace, matter-of- fact, natural, prosaic, dry, unvaried, monotonous, in plain terms, in plain words, in plain English, in plain common parlance,
point-blank.