dull

1 of 2

adjective

1
: tedious, uninteresting
dull lectures
2
: lacking sharpness of edge or point
a dull knife
3
a
: not resonant or ringing
a dull booming sound
b
: lacking in force, intensity, or sharpness
a dull ache
4
: lacking brilliance or luster
a dull finish
5
: cloudy
dull weather
6
of a color : low in saturation (see saturation sense 4a) and low in lightness
a dull green
7
: mentally slow : stupid
8
a
: slow in perception or sensibility : insensible
somewhat dull of hearing
dull to what went on about herWilla Cather
b
: lacking zest (see zest sense 2) or vivacity : listless
a dull performance
9
: slow in action : sluggish
dull markets
dullness noun
or less commonly dulness
dully adverb

dull

2 of 2

verb

dulled; dulling; dulls

transitive verb

: to make dull
dull a knife's edge

intransitive verb

: to become dull
The blade dulled with use.
Choose the Right Synonym for dull

dull, blunt, obtuse mean not sharp, keen, or acute.

dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency.

a dull pain
a dull mind

blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception.

a person of blunt sensibility

obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination.

too obtuse to take the hint

synonyms see in addition stupid

Examples of dull in a Sentence

Adjective the dull roar of the crowd the dull knife just bounced off the skin of the tomato without cutting it Verb Fog dulled the morning sunlight. Special earplugs dulled the sound of the chain saw. His hair dulled as he aged. The dog's eyes dulled as he got sick. She takes medicine to dull the pain. Fear dulled his need for adventure. The knife was dulled from use. The blade should be replaced as soon as it dulls. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
But that’s far preferable to the rest of the film, which is mind-numbingly dull. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023 The difference between sharp and dull, especially in late innings, is a significant one. Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 17 Sep. 2023 It’s been fine as far as financial stability and job security, but my job is dull. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 9 Sep. 2023 It's made with pure shea butter, detoxifying moringa seed oil, and soothing aloe leaf juice to revitalize itchy, dull, and flaky skin. Emily Shiffer, Women's Health, 9 Sep. 2023 The steering delivers good highway stability but is dull and uncommunicative on meandering two-lanes. Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 8 Sep. 2023 High levels of these create perfect environments for some of the leaf fungi and bacteria that can dull fall color. Dave Epstein, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2023 These serums work wonders on dull or tired-looking skin, leaving it looking revitalized and radiant. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023 Cedar and other species that may be dull on the outside but which explode with color when finished. Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 18 Sep. 2023
Verb
Beyond dulling even the sharpest of all-black ensembles, dealing with dandruff can seem never-ending. John Thompson, Men's Health, 30 Aug. 2023 Despite straddling the line between past successes and future challenges, Diablo IV proves once again that the march of time has done little to dull the franchise’s razor-sharp fangs. Brittany Vincent, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2023 Maybe by keeping Williams quiet while sparing him effusive praise, Riley is trying to dull the hype that soon will be deafening. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2023 What to do: Hitting dirt, gravel, sticks or even just big piles of leaves can dull your blades. Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 11 July 2023 This all-natural shampoo helps to remove tough stains that can dull the coat's shine and leave a lasting unpleasant odor. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2023 The Niners at least dulled the pain by finding Purdy with the 262nd and final pick last year. Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2023 Some shine of the streak was dulled when he was named in the Mitchell Report as a player who had used performance-enhancing drugs. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2023 On the flip side, the wrong glass can dull a stellar wine’s brilliance. Susan Choung, Good Housekeeping, 15 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dull.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English dul; akin to Old English dol foolish, Old Irish dall blind

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of dull was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near dull

Cite this Entry

“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dull. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

dull

1 of 2 adjective
1
: mentally slow : stupid
2
3
: slow in action : sluggish
4
: lacking sharpness of edge or point
5
: lacking brilliance or luster
6
: not ringing, sharp, or intense
a dull roar
7
8
: tedious, uninteresting
a dull lecture
9
: slightly grayish
a dull blue
dullness noun
also dulness
dully adverb

dull

2 of 2 verb
: to make or become dull

Medical Definition

dull

adjective
1
: mentally slow or stupid
2
: slow in perception or sensibility
3
: lacking sharpness of edge or point
a dull scalpel
4
: lacking in force, intensity, or acuteness
a dull pain
dull verb
dullness noun
or dulness
dully adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on dull

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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