as in deadening
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in reducing
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 bleaching
to make white or lighter by removing color
the painting's once-vivid colors have been dulled by time
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dulling
Jillian Kubala, Health, 28 Jan. 2026
Neuropathic pain comes from damaged or irritated nerves, and gabapentin targets the nerve signaling itself rather than just dulling pain.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
And Chinese exporters diverted flows through Southeast Asia and Mexico, dulling the effects of tariffs even as headline restrictions intensified.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
For deeper skin tones, Samo Spritzer offers a muted rosy mauve that sculpts without dulling the skin, while Feliz Fresca delivers high-impact pink pigment that stays saturated all day.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 26 Dec. 2025
Understanding exactly what the moment required, Mantecon pressed the middle portion of the two-loop 5K course, intent on dulling the power of finishing sprint of the field’s top finishers.
—James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
Brown tights provide a natural glow that complements the skin rather than dulling it, regardless of skin tone.
—Marilú Almaguer, Glamour, 30 Nov. 2025
Whether an item is hand painted, or making the mistake of dulling one's knives from too much exposure to a dishwasher, following a few rules will maintain important culinary items.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2025
Worries about the Fed’s outlook, a bubble in AI stocks, and a selloff in Bitcoin are dulling investor sentiment.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 18 Nov. 2025
Verb
Protein shakes are an easy way to bridge the gap between mealtimes without dulling your appetite.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 28 Jan. 2026
Neuropathic pain comes from damaged or irritated nerves, and gabapentin targets the nerve signaling itself rather than just dulling pain.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
And Chinese exporters diverted flows through Southeast Asia and Mexico, dulling the effects of tariffs even as headline restrictions intensified.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
For deeper skin tones, Samo Spritzer offers a muted rosy mauve that sculpts without dulling the skin, while Feliz Fresca delivers high-impact pink pigment that stays saturated all day.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 26 Dec. 2025
Understanding exactly what the moment required, Mantecon pressed the middle portion of the two-loop 5K course, intent on dulling the power of finishing sprint of the field’s top finishers.
—James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
Brown tights provide a natural glow that complements the skin rather than dulling it, regardless of skin tone.
—Marilú Almaguer, Glamour, 30 Nov. 2025
Whether an item is hand painted, or making the mistake of dulling one's knives from too much exposure to a dishwasher, following a few rules will maintain important culinary items.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2025
Worries about the Fed’s outlook, a bubble in AI stocks, and a selloff in Bitcoin are dulling investor sentiment.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 18 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulling
Verb
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Oatmeal specifically touts many benefits, including being a valuable source of numerous vitamins, antioxidants and fiber; moreover, studies indicate that the biochemical composition of the grain can help improve the gut microbiome in addition to reducing blood glucose levels as well.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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But since then, SpaceX too has worked on reducing the brightness of its satellites.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some dishwasher tablets include bleaching agents and rinse aids that can keep your clothes from cleaning properly or even stain them.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
28 Nov. 2025
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More than that, the YouTuber decided to rid her face of eyebrows, bleaching the hairs above her eyes to match the hue of her hair.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Clove water contains compounds with mild numbing and anti-inflammatory effects.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
5 Dec. 2025
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Some critics and documentary filmmakers say that mandate is reductive and numbing.—
Michael Powell,
New York Times,
25 Sep. 2022
Verb
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But earlier this week, a bipartisan group of senators worked to strike a compromise that could resurrect the enhanced ACA premium tax credits — potentially blunting the blow of rising monthly payments for Obamacare enrollees.—
Luke Garrett,
NPR,
1 Jan. 2026
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The shortfall stems from rising costs for the memory chips that go into computers, a jump which is blunting the benefits of a sales cycle for PCs.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Data Privacy Week is one of those calendar moments that risks fading into the background.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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The oil’s powerhouse formula has a number of benefits, including brightening skin and fading age spots.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Part of what makes leeches so effective at blood-sucking is that their saliva has uniquely anesthetic and anticoagulant properties, so they’ve been used for thousands of years for folk medicines in Asia and Eastern Europe.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
21 Jan. 2026
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The suit alleges that surgeon Dare Ajibade gave Easley an excessive amount of the anesthetic lidocaine during the 6½-hour procedure and failed to recognize persistent vomiting afterward as a sign of toxicity.—
Fred Schulte,
Miami Herald,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Both nationally and in Minnesota , there has been a shift away from intelligent discussion of public policy to endless partisan warfare with a deadening impact on the public.—
Arne Carlson,
Twin Cities,
8 Jan. 2026
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Now, Sora 2 might just be another online fad, a reality-deadening distraction that people will soon tire of.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Niacinamide and turmeric add a clarifying, brightening effect without irritation.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 Jan. 2026
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Arguably, the most popular antioxidant is vitamin C, which acts like a force field around the skin while brightening in the process.—
Jacqueline Kilikita,
Refinery29,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dulling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulling. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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