dulled 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in dull
lacking a surface luster or gloss it might be best to paint the exposed pipes with a dulled enamel

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2
as in faded
lacking intensity of color the dulled colors and brownish tones are characteristic of this painter's works

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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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dulled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dull
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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2
as in bleached
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 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 dulled
Verb
Imagine trying to swallow a sip of water while your face feels stuffed with congestion, your sense of taste is dulled and your body is floating 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth. — Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026 Its ubiquity has dulled its wow factor, and buyers associate it with builder-standard. — Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026 On a Friday morning drive to Jackson Park and the start of WNBA All-Star Game festivities, an overcast sky dulled the spectacular horizon line of Lake Michigan. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Ampere’s research appeared to suggest that the influx of romance book adaptations and romance drama in general has dulled the appetite for reality shows about love. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 June 2026 Bitch, despite being created with Reed in tandem with My Face Hurts From Smiling, leans more pop and R&B with lyrics that may have been dulled down for palatability. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2026 The sparkle of the moment is somewhat dulled, though, when Mark turns to Margo and claims to have never called CPS on her. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 20 May 2026 His helmet was not matte black, after all, but scratched up and dulled by dings and scuffings. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 18 May 2026 Its poster seems to capture the group’s anarchic spirit, proving that age hasn’t dulled their rebel yell. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 17 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulled
  1. dull
  2. faded
  3. blunted
  4. reduced
  5. bleached
  6. matte
  7. pale
  8. blunt
Adjective
  • While laminate has a protective coating that shields it from damage, using the wrong cleaning products will etch away at this top layer and dull its shine.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026
  • As the years go by, the hair shaft tends to thin out, resulting in strands that are more fragile, dull, and brittle.
    — Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 31 July 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Today, Tskaltubo's grand architecture stands as a testament to its faded glory—the sweeping arcs, decorative motifs, and faded murals all reminiscent of its once poignant beauty.
    — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 27 July 2026
  • Eric_Lynxweiler | Courtesy of Latinos in Heritage Conservation The Silver Platter, with its faded crimson awning along a stretch in Los Angeles’ Westlake District, doesn’t look like much from the outside.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of faded
Adjective
  • The results have been impressive enough from far away, but examined more closely as a blunted, external force, Big Brother has almost always been too literal in horror cinema.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of blunted
Verb
  • Although the details of the project – including how the money would be divided between states and how exactly water use would be reduced – are currently undetermined.
    — Swasti Singhai, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
  • At a time when Iran dominates political headlines, this novel offered a deeply human perspective on a country too often reduced to geopolitics.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduced
Verb
  • Inside, the scenery is far more elaborate than in its outdoor counterparts as there is no danger of it getting bleached by the sun or blowing away.
    — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Their typically bright coral feathers were white, as if they had been bleached.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of bleached
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
Definition of matte
Adjective
  • Her long white hair, normally collected in a bun, trailed down past her shoulders in smooth, pale waves.
    — Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
  • This is a place to order something sparkly—maybe the Broadway 75, a pale pink French 75 riff—to sip at the circular bar, or ensconced in the velvet banquette seats.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of pale
Adjective
  • Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni issued the most blunt criticism of Sanchez, as well as announcing that Italy would enforce air and sea border controls with Spain.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • BookTok’s preferences may skew toward familiar beats and blunt-force sensation, but in Harpman the hive mind has alighted on something more capacious and slippery.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of blunt

Browse Nearby Words

dullards
dulled
dulling
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Cite this Entry

“Dulled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulled. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dulled

Nglish: Translation of dulled for Spanish Speakers

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