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
Simple also never means dull, a problem Danforth sees with one famous Kansas City cuisine. Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026 Summer, though, can be a foe of glass hair hopefuls—the combination of sun, salt, chlorine, and humidity all contribute to hair becoming drier and frizzier, a concoction for dull, lackluster lengths. Selvaggia Germani, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
On a Friday morning drive to Jackson Park and the start of WNBA All-Star Game festivities, an overcast sky dulled the spectacular horizon line of Lake Michigan. Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Your taste buds change at altitude Cabin pressure dulls your ability to taste salt by up to 30%, which is why airline food can taste bland and, well, terrible. Cindy Dees, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
  • The medical examiner’s office ruled the manner of death as a homicide and the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head at the time of the killing, according to the arrest report.
    Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • According to the blunt John Adams, the American Revolution began before the war with Britain, in the people’s minds and hearts, and Arendt situated those shifts in American town councils where citizens had debated local affairs.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Now the seven most boring, starting with the most tolerable (comments edited for grammar and clarity).
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
  • It’s been a boring week for Makyah, who’s in third grade at Banneker Elementary.
    Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Crews battled a large fire at a scrap metal yard in North Philadelphia's Hunting Park neighborhood Sunday night, sending thick, hazy smoke into the sky and raising concerns among neighbors who say problems at the property have persisted for years.
    Eva Andersen, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Across the hall, in a lavender family room, a vintage TV installation by Jennifer stands in a corner playing hazy family videos and iconic cultural moments such as James Brown’s famously bizarre 1988 CNN interview on a loop.
    Jewel Wicker, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • 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
  • The long-wearing formula sets to a semi-matte finish that resists oil and humidity, too.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 26 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Today, Tskaltubo's grand architecture stands as a testament to its faded glory—the sweeping arcs, decorative motifs, and faded murals all reminiscent of its once poignant beauty.
    Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 27 July 2026
  • Learn how to stain a fence the right way to protect a new wood fence or enhance a faded fence.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2026
Adjective
  • Perhaps in writing it, Salinger was trying to negotiate whether his remarkable survival through some of the war’s worst gauntlets could be chalked up to dumb luck, or divine intervention.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Approaching the plant, there are no telltale dumb-bell silhouettes on the horizon signaling its presence.
    Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Quilt sets are oversized, reversible and buttery soft, made from the same smart fabric as the favorite sheets with a 100% inner cotton lining, recently named a Good Housekeeping favorite.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Expect a calm palette of neutrals and soft blues, metallic accents, and plenty of natural light, with views either west toward the mountains and desert or north up the Strip.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • In a sleepy bay in Anguilla, the ship’s marina comes down, affording an opportunity to play with the water toys and swim to an inflatable trampoline.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • And then, slowly and all at once, battle is upon this once sleepy market town.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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