dullness

noun

dull·​ness

variants or dulness

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being dull : stupidity, apathy, drowsiness, bluntness : a lack of luster, vividness, or brightness : monotony

the village street is well shaded by elms, with flower beds brightening the general dullness

—American Guide Series: Vermont

exports … underwent a quick recovery after the seasonal dullness of the summer months

—Paper Trade Journal

the men were getting freshened up from the day's monotonies and dullnesses

—Mark Twain

2

: something that is dull

checkbooks and columns of figures and rent bills and grocer's bills and light bills and telephone bills and other awful dullnesses

—J. L. Street †1947

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dulnesse, from dul, dulle + -nesse -ness

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Rhymes for dullness

• dulness
• fulness
• reasonableness
• unreasonableness