dull

adjective

\ ˈdəl

Definition of dull

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : tedious, uninteresting dull lectures

2 : lacking sharpness of edge or point a dull knife

3a : 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

8a : slow in perception or sensibility : insensible somewhat dull of hearing dull to what went on about her— Willa Cather

b : lacking zest (see zest sense 2) or vivacity : listless a dull performance

9 : slow in action : sluggish dull markets

dull

verb

dulled; dulling; dulls

Definition of dull (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to make dull dull a knife's edge

intransitive verb

: to become dull The blade dulled with use.

Other Words from dull Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about dull

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Other Words from dull

Adjective

dullness or less commonly dulness \ ˈdəl-nəs

\ noun

dully \ ˈdə(l)-lē

\ adverb

Synonyms & Antonyms for dull

Synonyms: Adjective

blunt, blunted, dulled, obtuse

Synonyms: Verb

benumb, blunt, cauterize, damp, dampen, deaden, numb

Antonyms: Adjective

cutting, edged, edgy, ground, honed, keen, pointed, sharp, sharpened, whetted

Antonyms: Verb

sharpen, whet

Choose the Right Synonym for dull

Adjective

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.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

So tired old jokes will find a home with dull people, which may help explain the nettlesome persistence of Adam Sandler. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "Would Your Clone Have the Same Sense of Humor?," 9 Apr. 2019 That’s just a regular guy whose conversations are so deadly dull that his victims lose all will to live. — Andrew Dalton, The Seattle Times, "‘Shadows’ sucks comedy from the everyday lives of vampires," 26 Mar. 2019 With the goal of reviving downtown in the late 1970s, the originally dull Victorian row houses of St. John’s, Newfoundland, were repainted in vibrant colors. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "The 25 most colorful cities in the world," 19 Feb. 2019 Pairing well with a headband or scraped-back ponytail, Socol also appreciates them as a welcome distraction from a dull complexion come fall. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "The French Girl’s Guide to Bangs, According to 3 Parisian It Girls," 7 Jan. 2019 Didier Deschamps side ground out narrow victories against Australia and Peru before playing out a dull 0-0 draw with Denmark - the only goalless draw of the tournament thus far. — SI.com, "World Cup Preview: France vs Belgium - Recent Form, Classic Encounter, Predictions & More," 9 July 2018 With the bases loaded, Machado hit a grounder to second and jogged up the first-base line while pivot man Jean Segura double-clutched his throw to first base, but still easily got Machado at first, eliciting a dull chorus of boos for Machado. — Eduardo A. Encina, baltimoresun.com, "Machado booed, O'Day injured as Orioles fall in frustrating fashion to Mariners, 3-2," 26 June 2018 The party was splendid, and conversation topics were anything but dull. — Zachary Schwartz, Vogue, "Emily Ratajkowski, Sienna Miller, and More Celebrate the Ultra-Cool Rem Koolhaas at the New Museum’s Spring Gala," 4 Apr. 2019 Grain bowls can be a symphony of flavor — or dull as dishwater. — Carrie Dennett, The Seattle Times, "Grain bowls are trending. Here’s how to make your own.," 28 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

All that walking hasn't dulled their shine, either. — Glamour, "I’m So Glad I Bought These Sneakers After I Saw Meghan Markle Wear Them," 21 Mar. 2019 The Casual Vacancy effectively dulled my appetite for grownup books from J.K. Rowling. — Constance Grady, Vox, "J.K. Rowling’s Cormoran Strike books are the next best thing to a grown-up Harry Potter," 31 Aug. 2018 That, Kunin says, should help flush any complexion-dulling waste from your system. — Jillian Ruffo, Glamour, "I Tried a Glow-Boosting IV Treatment to See If It'd Give Me Better Skin," 30 Nov. 2018 Some economists have said uncertainty over trade, aggravated by tariffs imposed by Mr. Trump in 2018, might dull the business-investment boost the large cut in the corporate-tax rate was designed to spur. — Nick Timiraos, WSJ, "WSJ Tax Guide 2019: The Tax Cut’s Economic Impact," 15 Feb. 2019 The only countertop that can actually be used as a cutting surface, butcher-block won't dull your knives like stone or concrete counters. — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, "Butcher-Block Countertops: Pros, Cons, and Everything Else You Should Know," 15 Jan. 2019 Kirkeminde grew up about a six-hour drive from here, in Knoxville, with a quick stint in Central Florida that did nothing to dull his Jack Daniels, Dollywood, you-want-that-barbecue-wet-or-dry? — Jacqueline Detwiler, Popular Mechanics, "Inside FedEx’s Christmas Miracle," 19 Dec. 2018 Higher yields in the U.S. dull the appeal of emerging-market assets. — Ira Iosebashvili, WSJ, "Brazilian Real Extends Rally," 9 Oct. 2018 Then came a numbing cream to dull the pain of the blade. — Jessica Yarbrough, SELF, "Microblading Helped Me Stop Obsessively Pulling Out My Eyebrows," 5 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dull.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.