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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dull
Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Gavras doesn’t give her many new levels to play beyond a few scenes of mild flirtation; the character grows dull in all her unwavering conviction.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Bob Sponseller, The Enquirer, 26 Aug. 2025
Unfortunately, jet lag dulls the Bolts’ spark in a close battle that ends in a Fins win.
—Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
In total, AccuWeather estimates 25 states will see vivid colors while 23 states will experience more dull foliage.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Gavras doesn’t give her many new levels to play beyond a few scenes of mild flirtation; the character grows dull in all her unwavering conviction.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
Many parents struggle with how to support adult children without dulling their drive or setting unrealistic expectations.
—Bob Sponseller, The Enquirer, 26 Aug. 2025
Unfortunately, jet lag dulls the Bolts’ spark in a close battle that ends in a Fins win.
—Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
-
Leslie had been discovered deceased in her upstairs bathroom, with the autopsy listing her official cause of death as blunt force trauma.—
Claire Lempert,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
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By reintroducing the War title, the Administration is sending a blunt message and in cyberspace, America is not only defending but also going on the offensive.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Farming takes so long and is so boring, some of us said.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The Clark County Fire Department said that tunnel boring operations had been temporarily halted at the site pending an ongoing accident investigation.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Granted, people’s memories can get a little hazy at times, but here’s an unscientific sample of what some other metro music fans hold dearest about Memorial Hall.—
Randy Mason,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
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Keeping the tradition alive Every year on a hazy summer evening, Hoosiers gather at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Linton to learn the ropes.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Gone are the days of the ultra-matte liquid lipstick.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
10 Sep. 2025
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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
-
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 18 Sep. 2025.
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