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
Whites appear dingy, colors become muted, and items overall look dull. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026 Ethylene speeds up the spoilage of this produce and can cause these fruits and veggies to go dull and yellow, wilt, soften, and become bitter. Molly Burford, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
To protect himself, however, Trask has created an inhibitor field that de-powers any mutant nearby, dulling Wolverine’s healing power and ferocity. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 Lastly, to dull the war-mongering vigor of the Rivermen, Ormund installs small, scared little boys, ripped from their homes, all along the chemin de ronde — a baby human shield for Ser Daeron the Daring’s great army. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
  • McConville died of multiple blunt force injuries, according to the coroner’s office news release, and his death has been ruled an accident.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Adrian Fontes, who, as the secretary of state of Arizona is one of the local officials who would be impacted by losing funding for election security, gave a blunt assessment to NPR.
    Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Indeed, Hank hurts lots of people in this action-comedy that doesn’t prove boring for a second but has trouble managing its disparate tones.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ma brings a happy zeal — and an artist’s eye for detail — to creating a sense of wonder, fantasy and futuristic freedom in a world limited by boring, rational constraints.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • DPs Fabian Gamper and Tudor Vladimir Panduru’s grainy lensing poetically captures these intimate faultlines and era-specific textures, staying close to Rita’s face and increasingly hazy eyes.
    Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Its poster is a still life every Jeddah resident knows, a rooftop of water tanks and air conditioners against a hazy sky.
    Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 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
  • Not to mention, its faded ivy tone is the perfect autumn hue.
    Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Ben Rahilly owns an appliance store, a gift shop, a furniture store and a concrete business in Newberry, a faded logging town about 60 miles west of the Canadian border.
    Russ McNamara, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • In Erasmus’s view, cutting and pasting still basically yields a copy, and a very dumb one to boot.
    Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • America’s Semiquincentennial was celebrated across the country this summer with big, dumb, gluttonous fun.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • And if your eyes are your favorite feature, play them up with sculptural lashes, a soft smoky eye, or a simple wash of cool-toned eye shadow.
    Loren Savini, Allure, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The extra-wide band smooths back and sides with a buttery soft fabric for no-chafing comfort.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Booksellers like Payne typically post their holdings on multiple websites, such as AbeBooks, Alibris, Amazon, and Biblio, with Alibris widely considered to be the sleepiest revenue stream of the bunch.
    Francesca Mancino, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
  • For most of their lives, the tracks were a sleepy industrial bypass known as the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway.
    John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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