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
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
When the mower blades are dull, the lawn mower has to work harder to cut through every bit of grass, putting more stress on the engine.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Apr. 2026
Knives can dull quickly when exposed to harsh detergents and high heat.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
Baking soda has a mild, yet abrasive texture that can lift out stains causing your tiles to look dull without damaging the surface.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
When the mower blades are dull, the lawn mower has to work harder to cut through every bit of grass, putting more stress on the engine.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
Verb
Others report their taste buds feeling dulled.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Apr. 2026
Knives can dull quickly when exposed to harsh detergents and high heat.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
-
Brentwood Police Department A second independent autopsy requested by the Ramirez family determined her cause of death was a homicide and cited multiple blunt-force injuries to her head and torso, as well as asphyxiation caused by police restraint.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
-
Michael Rapaport is calling out New York leadership in blunt terms after a tense protest outside a Manhattan synagogue, demanding accountability from the state’s top office.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
An exhausting, preachy, frankly, boring and outdated version of his former self.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Let’s be honest here, and no disrespect to venerable family board games, but Monopoly is kind of boring.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
The book’s cover depicts a hazy sunset over a Hollywood sign that is drowning in floodwaters.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
4 May 2026
-
The immediate aftermath of a split tends to be less clear, a hazy maelstrom that can involve medicinal tubs of ice cream, insomnia by way of intrusive thoughts, and an aversion to wearing anything other than sweats.—
Paula Mejía,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
When deadheading, cut where the blossom's stem joins the rest of the plant—in other words, remove not only the faded flower, but the tiny stem attached to it as well.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
10 May 2026
-
Next to the dog, a faded print of Big Ben, and a commemorative plate with the late Queen Elizabeth II smiling from nine different decades.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
These dumb little kids were freaking bored.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
-
The series will now be hosted by British comedian Jack Whitehall and the network has lined up a phalanx of celebrities aiming not to be the dumbest in the country.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
All German Pilsner malt, super soft water profile like that in a Czech pale lager, and 100% US-grown hops with a touch of flaked corn.—
Blaine Callahan,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
And inside the adjacent soft pretzel shop, two workers leaned over on the counter, watching videos on a phone to pass the time.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Tuesday evening’s event didn’t devolve into the chaos of a cacophonous debate last week but was far livelier than a relatively sleepy one last month.—
Ben Paviour
May 6,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
-
The president endorsed their challengers and his allies spent millions of dollars in what are normally sleepy state legislative races.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Earlier that year, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a sweeping climate change bill with an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030, 70% by 2040, and to achieve economy-wide net-zero levels by 2050.—
Krisztian Elcsics,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
Likewise, in building communities, there must be a priority on preserving green spaces, creating walkable neighborhoods to reduce traffic and car emissions, intentionally designating areas for wildlife habitats, and prioritizing quality of life through parks, trails, and conservation areas.—
Sammy Duda,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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