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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Dave Smith, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
The photos on the frame appear dull and grainy, and they can only be updated every four hours.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
It’s made of 100 percent solid acacia wood, which is great for cooking thanks to its water-resistant and durable finish that won’t dull your knives.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
Just as a chef hones a knife daily to keep it prime—rather than waiting for it to dull and require the destructive act of sharpening—organizations can hone their approach to AI in ways that are less risky, more resilient, and ultimately faster and more effective than transformation.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
The photos on the frame appear dull and grainy, and they can only be updated every four hours.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
The emotions that drive decisions at the top of the free-agent market — sentimentality, desperation, urgency — are dulled by the organization’s adherence to process.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
It’s made of 100 percent solid acacia wood, which is great for cooking thanks to its water-resistant and durable finish that won’t dull your knives.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
-
This episode — which consists almost entirely of characters sharing formative incidents from their pasts — is an unusually blunt device for delivering backstory.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The medical examiner later concluded in an autopsy report that the 11-year-old died after being stabbed 18 times, sustaining four blunt force injuries and being shot once in the face.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Though the pacing and breadth of the episode ensure that things never get boring, not all the stories are equally compelling.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Klum doesn't want to let anyone down by choosing the boring or easy way out with a costume.—
Hedy Phillips,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
As her body began to shiver and her mind grew hazy, extraction efforts only became more difficult.—
Mark Gray,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
At the new Bay View taproom, the brewery will serve small runs as well as Solemn Oath Brewery staples, such as its popular Lü Kölsch, Snaggletooth Bandana IPA, Small Wave City Club hazy IPA and Kidnapped by Vikings IPA.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The long-wearing formula sets to a semi-matte finish that resists oil and humidity, too.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Gone are the days of the ultra-matte liquid lipstick.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Scherzinger’s only familiarity with the material was Billy Wilder’s 1950 film, which starred Gloria Swanson as a faded beauty of the silent era hell-bent on a return to relevance.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Her long blond ends drew a stark contrast to her faded brown roots, which were parted down the middle and brushed up in the back.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And that’s a stupid, dumb, mindless question.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
-
On TikTok, as The Washington Post has reported, some creators are making $5,000 a month using AI tools to write scripts and animate extremely dumb viral videos where old men talk about soiling themselves.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The large flowers have an iridescent lavender eye and stand atop evergreen foliage that adds soft blue-green hues to the garden year-round.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The species is a red gorgonian soft coral found along the Pacific coast from Chile to California.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Better check behind every bush and tree, because this movie will convince you every sleepy suburb is a slaughterhouse in the making.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
-
In the quiet village of Mount Prospect, nestled just northwest of Chicago’s city limits, residents were sheltering from the cold and rain on a sleepy Sunday afternoon watching TV, scrolling through social media and enjoying midday coffee at home.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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