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 matte
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
Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
But even in dull or stressful jobs, people can carve out corners of joy.
—Janine MacLachlan, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2025
The only thing that occasionally dulls his pain is opioid use, as the British prison has a thriving drug-trading industry involving a variety of goods and services.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
Magic Erasers will scratch or dull that in no time, warns Liles.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
But even in dull or stressful jobs, people can carve out corners of joy.
—Janine MacLachlan, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
People take NSAIDs such as ibuprofen to dull the aching pain, but these pain relievers can harm the gut when taken regularly.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2025
The only thing that occasionally dulls his pain is opioid use, as the British prison has a thriving drug-trading industry involving a variety of goods and services.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
-
Maron, who’s become an increasingly vocal critic of comedians who inadvertently, or outwardly, cater to the right, shared a particularly blunt video on TikTok that was at once a dire warning and a call to action.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
18 Sep. 2025
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Manchin’s media appearances to promote his book have already made headlines with quintessential blunt talk about his snub of former Vice President Kamala Harris and willingness to torch his old party.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But Anderson also knows that the moral purity of revolutionaries gets boring pretty fast.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
18 Sep. 2025
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However, the McCullum and Stokes selection wagon prefers fast wheels rather than those boring job specs, such as age and experience.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Rat Saw God than an extension of its hazy Southern world-building, Bleeds is Wednesday at their best—again.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Inside, police investigator Michael Ely found the interior hazy with smoke, and no one was present in the home except for the family dog, Oakley.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Gone are the days of the ultra-matte liquid lipstick.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
10 Sep. 2025
-
This Lulus bag is primarily matte and clean, with just a tinge of silver on the top handle and cutesy bow.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
People.com,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Williams, in a faded plaid shirt, gray hair sprouting from under a John Deere hat, paced.—
Molly Parker,
ProPublica,
4 Sep. 2025
-
While some might have a faded tie-dye shirt in the back of their closet and listen to the occasional Grateful Dead album, seniors across the spectrum are turning to cannabis—many for the first time.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Napier got a one-year honeymoon until a Week 1 loss at Utah in 2023, the year when the Gators committed a silly amount of dumb penalties (including the original instance of two guys wearing the same jersey).—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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The reigning Super Bowl champs better hope that’s the dumbest thing that one of their players does this season.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Athletique There is something edgy yet soft about a funnel-neck in a technical fabric—lean in and pair a wind- and water-resistant shell with trousers and sneakers for a touch of sport, or style it with a pencil skirt and kitten heels for a more feminine feel.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
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Swift wore Elson 4, the brand’s best-selling blue-red, but the bullet-proof formula comes in 12 beautiful hues ranging from a soft beige peach (Nude Cabaret) to a deep bronzed rose (Flesh 3).—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Except that four years later, on The Hills, Lauren Conrad passed it up for a guy with frosted tips and sleepy vibes.—
Megan Angelo,
Glamour,
11 Sep. 2025
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New York — Oracle, a large but generally sleepy cloud-computing company, just had an absolutely bonkers day on Wall Street.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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