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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
Opt for a shorts-and-tank set—because even warm weather can’t dull your festive shine.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 22 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
Tools meant to make life easier can sometimes dull our sensitivity and sense of self.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
Opt for a shorts-and-tank set—because even warm weather can’t dull your festive shine.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 22 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
-
But also these dumb things, from another perspective, can have a certain type of digital trashy poetry.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The bounty hunter kills some random dudes who are dumb enough to cross him and steals a Falka doll from some little girls who have adopted the Rats as folk heroes.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The throw is crafted with acrylic, but don’t be fooled by its price; the intricate, woven yarn resembles that of chenille, with a buttery-smooth texture that feels luxuriously soft to the touch.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
4 Nov. 2025
-
In the latter, Ladd played Flo, a candid and cutting waitress who shows her softer side while befriending Ellen Brustyn’s Alice.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Here, then, are 8 financial fixes for anyone with an hour to spare on a sleepy Sunday morning.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
-
For months, New Jersey’s 2025 governor’s race was considered sleepy political theater—the kind expected to reaffirm the state’s blue credentials before national operatives move on.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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