1
as in dull
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
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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
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Recent Examples of dulled
Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Perhaps the avalanche of artificial intelligence has dulled our capacity to be amazed by space technology.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Though there was a thrilling edge to their early work—the lightning-in-a-bottle sample drill of Polo Perks and Moh Baretta, that spine-tingling Pasto Flocco run—it’s been dulled a bit in favor of ambling minimalism.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
In recent weeks, the vibe inside the arena has been dulled, with bad basketball, little star power and no effervescent Curry.
—Sports Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2026
After a debut season as shocking and raw as Aunt Lydia’s aforementioned act of discipline, Bruce Miller’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s landmark novel drifted into repetitious patterns with a familiarity that dulled their impact.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
And even supporters of the systems say searchers can become dulled by a multitude of false alarms and miss the few actual weapons.
—Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
And even supporters of the systems say searchers can become dulled by a multitude of false alarms and miss the few actual weapons.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
That all unfortunately overshadows the palpable affection Gosling and Emma Stone have in their second of three movie romances, and even Gosling’s playboy charisma gets dulled a bit.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
As the decades passed on, neither its sentiment nor its shine ever dulled.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Perhaps the avalanche of artificial intelligence has dulled our capacity to be amazed by space technology.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Though there was a thrilling edge to their early work—the lightning-in-a-bottle sample drill of Polo Perks and Moh Baretta, that spine-tingling Pasto Flocco run—it’s been dulled a bit in favor of ambling minimalism.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
In recent weeks, the vibe inside the arena has been dulled, with bad basketball, little star power and no effervescent Curry.
—Sports Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2026
After a debut season as shocking and raw as Aunt Lydia’s aforementioned act of discipline, Bruce Miller’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s landmark novel drifted into repetitious patterns with a familiarity that dulled their impact.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
And even supporters of the systems say searchers can become dulled by a multitude of false alarms and miss the few actual weapons.
—Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
And even supporters of the systems say searchers can become dulled by a multitude of false alarms and miss the few actual weapons.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
That all unfortunately overshadows the palpable affection Gosling and Emma Stone have in their second of three movie romances, and even Gosling’s playboy charisma gets dulled a bit.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulled
Adjective
-
The long layoff between seasons of Euphoria apparently didn’t dull viewers’ enthusiasm for the show.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Pastas and Grains Similar to powdered laundry detergent, pastas and grains have packaging that's dull, boring, and bulky.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For the second time in a week, the Dodgers made a minor-league acquisition of a faded pitching prospect with impressive velocity but poor control.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Jenner is pictured wearing a pair of faded yellow jeans and a white tank top, paired with a belly chain.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Orientation matters; garlic is planted vertically, with the root (blunted) end of the clove facing down, and the sprout (pointy) end facing up.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Flat, calm but earnest, mildly anxious, blunted, volatile.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And Utah temporarily reduced its state fuel tax, but only by 6 cents on the gallon, bringing its state gas tax to 32 cents on the gallon for the remainder of 2026.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Iran’s enrichment capabilities have been reduced by bombing this year and last.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wet grass is susceptible to fungal infections like rust disease, dollar spot, and red thread, which can cause bleached or dead grass or orange spots on individual blades of grass.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Some vignettes had the grainy shading of excessive toner powder, while others were bleached out.—
Katherine Rochester,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 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
-
Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio had already spun the Renaissance fantasy of the bella donna, with her golden tresses, blue eyes, and pale skin.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Some produce pale purple flowers that form crowns around deep green foliage, but others bloom in pink, red, blue, and white hues.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
He was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma to the head.—
Mark Prussin,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
An autopsy found that Reyes died of blunt force trauma to her head, neck, torso and left lower extremity, the warrant affidavit said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dulled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulled. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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