Definition of dullnext
1
2
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest a dull dance recital that made us wish that we were someplace else

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

7
8

dull

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dull differ from other similar words?

The words blunt and obtuse are common synonyms of dull. While all three words mean "not sharp, keen, or acute," dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency.

a dull pain
a dull mind

When can blunt be used instead of dull?

Although the words blunt and dull have much in common, blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception.

a person of blunt sensibility

When is it sensible to use obtuse instead of dull?

The meanings of obtuse and dull largely overlap; however, obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination.

too obtuse to take the hint

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dull
Adjective
Many of the strongest initial applications are the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks that go unfilled, contribute to injuries, and pull people away from higher-value judgment and exception handling. — Navin Chaddha, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 But in the years between Logic1000’s in-your-face debut EP and 2024’s duller, more careful Mother, her solo work became less singular. — Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
But perpetually hunting in the same locale can dull the shimmer. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Monét sings prettily on both duets, but their conventionality dulls her shine. — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
  • The coroner listed his cause of death as multiple blunt-force injuries and his manner of death as an accident.
    — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Newsom’s support for the deal came after Paramount threatened to move operations to Tennessee or Texas, placing more pressure on Bonta to come to an agreement and blunt efforts to lose California’s signature industry.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Infrastructure inspection is exactly the kind of boring but highly practical application that modern airships excel at, Grossman says.
    — Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The Milwaukee Brewers won what was, ultimately, a bit of a boring World Series in five games.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • This view shows the nebula as a brown pillar of dust embedded in a hazy, almost rainbow field of dust and gas.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than drawing a precise border around the lips, the technique involves buffing pigment outward to create a hazy, almost airbrushed effect.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The finish is a semi-matte—smooth, satin, and shine-free—that looks looks like velvet on the lips.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Its 85-inch QLED display features a highly matte anti-glare screen, so your art and movies look lifelike without annoying reflections.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Investigators described him as a white male in his late 50s, with a scruffy, gray beard who was wearing a faded blue baseball cap.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The landscape flowed in ridges and mountains of faded yellow and whisper pink, where welwitschia–large, low-lying plants that live to be hundreds of years old–sprawled like relics from a Dune film set.
    — Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Then the reviews, of course, completely dismissed me as being like some old dumb blonde thing.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Basically all that's left for the dumb human to do when using the all-new Arrowmax Arrowspace S1 electric smart driver is dropping the bit in the tip and holding the driver steady – the S1 takes care of everything else.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The Dolce Vita bob runs longer with soft, flowing layers, which sets it apart from the shorter, tighter shapes most associated with vintage glamour.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The hybrid shoe looks like a pretty suede flat but is lined by ultra soft fluff that gives it a cozy slipper feel.
    — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 28 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Then, just nine months later, came the collision Wednesday morning that turned a sleepy stretch of rail lined by olive groves near the village of Urda into a scene of carnage.
    — Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The collision Wednesday morning that turned a sleepy stretch of rail lined by olive groves into a scene of carnage came just four weeks before the country votes in a national election.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster