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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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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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 stupid
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
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Recent Examples of dull
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2025
Final Destination 5 suffers from a pretty dull ensemble of future corpses (the most boorish include David Koechner and Rugrat from The Wolf of Wall Street), going through the same cycle of disbelief and dread the death-list targets always experience in these movies.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 19 May 2025
Christine Michel Carter, Parents, 20 May 2025
Nothing is worse than getting partway into a craft project and getting all your pieces ready, only for your cheap, dulled scissors to destroy the edge of your fabric or paper.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
This is because the dull blade initially bent the onion skin, which caused pressure to build up inside.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2025
Final Destination 5 suffers from a pretty dull ensemble of future corpses (the most boorish include David Koechner and Rugrat from The Wolf of Wall Street), going through the same cycle of disbelief and dread the death-list targets always experience in these movies.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 19 May 2025
Verb
Over time, that disconnection can dull natural hunger cues, making skipped meals feel normal.
—Christine Michel Carter, Parents, 20 May 2025
Nothing is worse than getting partway into a craft project and getting all your pieces ready, only for your cheap, dulled scissors to destroy the edge of your fabric or paper.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
-
Her brand features blunt honesty and humor, as well as fashion, beauty, and lifestyle tips.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
-
City’s video tribute was a tear-jerker, and less hardy characters than De Bruyne — nicknamed ‘the tumble dryer’ due to his dry (and blunt) approach — would surely have cracked and let the tears roll.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
Belief that your institution is exempt from the hard, functional and often boring parts of the job leads to a slow decline.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
Organizations that foster a culture of self-compassion can empower their employees to better navigate stress, maintain their well-being, and - perhaps boring but no less important - adhere to safety protocols.—
Ellen Choi,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Though famous for its hazy IPAs, Outer Range has stepped up its game in lagers, pilsners, stouts, saisons and Belgians.—
Shauna Farnell,
Denver Post,
27 May 2025
-
The potential July trade market for relievers is hazy.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
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To get this result, Dempsey recommends the Dior Addict Lip Tint for its transfer-proof, semi-matte finish.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Her devotees are still sweating through workouts at a faded gym in Queens.—
Alex Vadukul,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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It’s all come a long way from Tennant’s time in a house of eight girls at university, laundry drying racks layered with shapeless, faded underwear.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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This is just stupid how successful this is, but that’s really underselling it.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
31 May 2025
-
Camp, stupid, joyful—to both own and access—Labubu has taken over.—
Lara Johnson-Wheeler,
Vogue,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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Their texture is soft and literally melts in your mouth.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
2 June 2025
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The interior of my bZ Limited was comfortable, trimmed in appealing soft materials and roomy.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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Ultimately, what was once a sleepy and steady sector of the US economy is starting to become much more dynamic.—
Steven Dudash,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
-
The queen, who is currently competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, is near-singlehandedly turning the All Stars franchise from a sleepy series to a must-watch by playing the game strategically and having fun doing it.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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