1
as in blunt
lacking sharpness of edge or point
the dull knife just bounced off the skin of the tomato without cutting it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
a dull dance recital that made us wish that we were someplace else
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3
as in hazy
covered over by clouds
dull skies plagued most of our vacation days at the beach
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4
as in dulled
lacking a surface luster or gloss
a good polish should restore that car's dull finish
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5
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
that canvas shirt should fade to an attractive, dull red over time
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6
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily
the importance of the discovery was lost on the dull minds of his colleagues
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7
as in soft
not loud in pitch or volume
a dull roar from the distance
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8
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
a dull market for luxury goods this holiday season
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1
as in to blunt
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the aspirin dulled his headache and he was soon feeling better
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2
as in to bleach
to make white or lighter by removing color
the painting's once-vivid colors have been dulled by time
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dull
Tamara Gane,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
Essentially, a dull mower blade compromises the health and appearance of your grass.
—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
14 June 2026
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
The danger is heavy-handed protections for Eskom will suppress wholesale prices, dulling market signals investors need for further investment in the sector, and effectively rebranding the old monopoly.
—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
The shiny and dull sides of aluminum foil result from the manufacturing process.
—
Tamara Gane,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
Essentially, a dull mower blade compromises the health and appearance of your grass.
—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
14 June 2026
Verb
Instead, the Knights tied it late in regulation before Carolina won in overtime, which blurred the cause-and-effect narrative enough to dull the criticism of Tortorella’s call.
—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
The danger is heavy-handed protections for Eskom will suppress wholesale prices, dulling market signals investors need for further investment in the sector, and effectively rebranding the old monopoly.
—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
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At the scene, police found Creech with blunt force injuries, WBNS reported.
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The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that her cause of death was blunt force trauma.
Adjective
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Sustainable growth feels boring from the inside.
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The point is to make the boring stuff feel like a hangout, not to build a productivity system.
Adjective
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Nearly everyone knows the Boston Tea Party; many can summon at least a hazy memory of the Stamp Act or the Townshend duties.
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That could result in a slightly muted sky and a softer, hazier sun angle through the afternoon, though surface visibility impacts should remain limited.
Adjective
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Its 85-inch QLED display features a highly matte anti-glare screen, so your art and movies look lifelike without annoying reflections.
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The long-wearing formula sets to a semi-matte finish that resists oil and humidity, too.
Adjective
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Directed by Son Jae-gon and starring Gang Dong-won, Uhm Tae-goo, and Park Ji-hyun, the film tracks a faded first-generation K-pop co-ed dance trio making a reckless attempt to stage a comeback two decades after a plagiarism scandal dissolved their careers.
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The one difference was a new layer of red bricks over the faded previous layer.
Adjective
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Not all blondes are dumb, don’t judge a book by its cover, yada yada yada, lo and behold, Reese Witherspoon is a certified movie star.
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Though Cady has made some gestures toward helping the Bowdens, like his behind-the-scenes effort to get one of Anna’s death-row clients exonerated last week, Tom and Anna should not be so dumb as to ignore his ulterior motives.
Adjective
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Recreational swimming is not permitted, yet anglers fishing for tilapia, largemouth bass and carp are a common sight along the rocky sides of the soft-bottom areas.
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That first bite delivers the crispy outside with a soft chew of rice, followed by the hot dog.
Adjective
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Summer is a sleepy season for new cookbooks.
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On paper, New York State Comptroller is a sleepy job.
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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