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 dulled
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
Paul Eremenko, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
The main ingredient is sodium perborate or sodium percarbonate which when introduced to water, oxidizes to help remove soil and stains and to cut through residual build-up that leaves fabric dull.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2025
Yet Friday’s release, replete with redactions, has not dulled the clamor for information given how many records had yet to be released and because some of the materials had already been made public.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
Encourage teams to treat the AI as a trainable colleague who doesn’t complain doing dull and repetitive work, rather than a replacement.
—Paul Eremenko, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
The main ingredient is sodium perborate or sodium percarbonate which when introduced to water, oxidizes to help remove soil and stains and to cut through residual build-up that leaves fabric dull.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
Some cleaners can dull the floor's finish, cause damage, or leave streaks.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2025
Yet Friday’s release, replete with redactions, has not dulled the clamor for information given how many records had yet to be released and because some of the materials had already been made public.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
-
The coroner determined that the cause of death was traumatic blunt force injuries and the manner of death was an accident.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Top women executives have also been blunt about the tradeoffs of work and life.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Yes, the rich women went to Sedona on Sutton’s private plane, but before that there were a few scenes back in boring old Los Angeles.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Disease prevention should be boring, routine, expected, and easy to access.—
Uché Blackstock,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Thanks to a new TikTok hazy purple-blue filter inspired by the year, 2016 is suddenly all the rage.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Its narrator performs a hazy nonchalance toward death and redemption.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Characterized by their faded or worn-out effect, as if their original color had been lightened by washing, these beloved jeans stand out for their vintage and carefree air.—
Mayte Salido,
Glamour,
4 Jan. 2026
-
The styling trick works even with an outfit that leans as grunge as this, with ballooning black cargo pants, a muted flannel, and a faded black tee.—
Alyssa Rotunno,
InStyle,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Okay, there's trying something new and then there's just being dumb.—
Samantha Highfill,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Why portray Dorothy as a doe-eyed ding-a-ling; as not just naive but dumb?—
Lili Anolik,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Between its dig-free straps, silky-soft performance fabric, and light Spanxsmooth compression, this one-and-done outfit is a unicorn of travel-friendly pieces, offering all-day comfort in one singular silhouette that’s just as easy to style under a cardigan, zip-up, or jacket.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Shoppers agree the set feels ultra-soft.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The sleepy cues are managed by your circadian rhythm, or your body's internal clock.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The cases remained unsolved for decades as the sleepy Long Island community reeled over the possibility of a serial killer lurking in their midst.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During his January 2025 State of the State address, Little called for tax cuts that could reduce the state’s general fund by about $100 million.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
-
To reduce sizes, builders are going back to open floor plans with fewer hallways.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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