1
as in matte
lacking a surface luster or gloss
it might be best to paint the exposed pipes with a dulled enamel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
the dulled colors and brownish tones are characteristic of this painter's works
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in blunted
lacking sharpness of edge or point
the dulled blade of a knife that had been stored in a drawer full of miscellaneous utensils
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in reduced
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the aspirin dulled his headache and he was soon feeling better
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bleached
to make white or lighter by removing color
the painting's once-vivid colors have been dulled by time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dulled
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
Even when the Dodgers find a glimmer, it has been dulled rather quickly.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
My sleep was fractured, my health declined, my decisions dulled, and my confidence wavered.
—Daisy Auger-Domínguez, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Time hasn’t dulled the impact of the Evija’s design.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2025
Armani beauty’s high-wattage celebrity power has never dulled and spans generations.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
Syracuse University professor Dimitar Gueorguiev warned that TikTok’s edge has dulled.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
Even when the Dodgers find a glimmer, it has been dulled rather quickly.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
My sleep was fractured, my health declined, my decisions dulled, and my confidence wavered.
—Daisy Auger-Domínguez, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Time hasn’t dulled the impact of the Evija’s design.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2025
Armani beauty’s high-wattage celebrity power has never dulled and spans generations.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulled
Adjective
-
Gone are the days of the ultra-matte liquid lipstick.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
10 Sep. 2025
-
This Lulus bag is primarily matte and clean, with just a tinge of silver on the top handle and cutesy bow.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
People.com,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Williams, in a faded plaid shirt, gray hair sprouting from under a John Deere hat, paced.—
Molly Parker,
ProPublica,
4 Sep. 2025
-
While some might have a faded tie-dye shirt in the back of their closet and listen to the occasional Grateful Dead album, seniors across the spectrum are turning to cannabis—many for the first time.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The phasing in of the wage increase seems to have blunted the referendum effort, acknowledged San Diego County Lodging Association Board Chairman Robert Gleason.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The very tool meant to sharpen medical practice had perhaps blunted it.—
Murali Doraiswamy,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The coral, now bleached, is alive, but slowly starving.—
Denise Hruby,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The only thing not bleached was, luckily, his face.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
One moment, the Sound of Sleat is a sheet of silver under a pale sun; the next, wind drives rain sideways into the distillery’s courtyard, rattling the pagoda roof.—
Gina Pace,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Curiosity and possibly even lust play into their first encounter; part of the welcome complexity between this pale-skinned woman of substance and this tall, equally alabaster, formerly dead drink of water is the ambiguity in their initial interactions.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Leslie had been discovered deceased in her upstairs bathroom, with the autopsy listing her official cause of death as blunt force trauma.—
Claire Lempert,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
-
By reintroducing the War title, the Administration is sending a blunt message and in cyberspace, America is not only defending but also going on the offensive.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Among other policy changes, the bill brought back 2017 tax cuts, increased funding for deportation efforts and reduced who is eligible for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).—
Avalon Hester,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
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However, the length of time the computer takes to respond is within the designer's control, and its perception can be reduced by giving prompt and accurate feedback, even if the operation's actual execution time is longer.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Discovered in January, the green comet has brightened faster than predicted in recent weeks and now looks set to be visible from dark rural skies during October 2025.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Stained and seasoned with curry powder, the chickpea salad’s bold flavor is brightened with fresh herbs, scallions and a splash of vinegar.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dulled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulled. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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