as in deadening
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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
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Recent Examples of dulling
Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
Warm kitchens speed up staling and fat oxidation, dulling flavors faster.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
In Party of Two—the fifth novel in a series featuring the same group of friends—the protagonist, Olivia, has to navigate the spotlight that comes with dating a senator without dulling her own ambitions.
—Karen Ostergren, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
Together, these ingredients create a gentle, yet powerful, solution that restores shine to stainless steel without dulling its finish.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2025
In parts of Southeast Asia, totality will begin as the full moon rises, dulling the effect.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Soaring temperatures and drought also sends trees into stress, dulling the experience of fall foliage.
—Emilee Coblentz, Outside, 2 Sep. 2025
Many parents struggle with how to support adult children without dulling their drive or setting unrealistic expectations.
—Bob Sponseller, The Enquirer, 26 Aug. 2025
While opioids primarily work by dulling sensations in the brain, the new drug, in fifty milligram oral tablets, is reported to reduce pain by targeting a pain-signaling pathway involving a specific sodium channel in the peripheral nervous system, before the pain signals reach the brain.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Long-term, alcohol damages the brain by shrinking white and gray matter, dulling rewards, and overactivating the stress system.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
Warm kitchens speed up staling and fat oxidation, dulling flavors faster.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
In Party of Two—the fifth novel in a series featuring the same group of friends—the protagonist, Olivia, has to navigate the spotlight that comes with dating a senator without dulling her own ambitions.
—Karen Ostergren, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
Together, these ingredients create a gentle, yet powerful, solution that restores shine to stainless steel without dulling its finish.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2025
In parts of Southeast Asia, totality will begin as the full moon rises, dulling the effect.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Soaring temperatures and drought also sends trees into stress, dulling the experience of fall foliage.
—Emilee Coblentz, Outside, 2 Sep. 2025
Many parents struggle with how to support adult children without dulling their drive or setting unrealistic expectations.
—Bob Sponseller, The Enquirer, 26 Aug. 2025
While opioids primarily work by dulling sensations in the brain, the new drug, in fifty milligram oral tablets, is reported to reduce pain by targeting a pain-signaling pathway involving a specific sodium channel in the peripheral nervous system, before the pain signals reach the brain.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulling
Verb
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According to the current lawsuit, Fletcher has not paid his half of the minimum $1,500 per month restitution for the existing settlement, but his ex-wife has paid her portion, reducing the restitution balance to just under $56,000.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Nov. 2025
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These are all part of standard advice for good sleep hygiene, which also includes reducing screen use before bed and creating a regular evening routine, like reading or listening to calming music.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Laundress Whites Detergent really boosts the brightness of everything—and no yellowish tint that often comes from bleaching clothes.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 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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Some critics and documentary filmmakers say that mandate is reductive and numbing.—
Michael Powell,
New York Times,
25 Sep. 2022
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Aside from being scientifically fascinating, the special effect of these peppercorns is also a key component of Sichuan cuisine’s greatest gift to the culinary world, a numbing and spicy flavor profile known as málà.—
Chala Tyson Tshitundu,
Bon Appétit,
29 Sep. 2021
Verb
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San Diego City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, who sits on the water authority’s board of directors, asked officials to gather more options for blunting the impact of rate hikes.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Oct. 2025
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Many shutdowns have largely played out over the weekend, blunting the impact, according to the CRFB.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Even the combative Venezuela of eight years ago, where kids with homemade shields assembled in the streets day after day to battle the dictatorship’s goons, is a fading memory.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
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Cheney is remembered as a chief architect of the war in Iraq after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and a member of an old Republican Party guard that is quickly fading away.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Supplements That Interfere With Anesthesia Certain supplements can interact negatively with anesthetic medications, which are given before surgery to prevent feeling pain or discomfort during the procedure.—
Ayesha Gulzar,
Verywell Health,
28 Oct. 2025
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Schultz also slow-walked the trial use of the fast-acting anesthetic ketamine by paramedics, who were able to administer only four doses in six months under his stewardship.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Thin sound deadening The Enabling Technology prize went to CompositeEdge GmbH and ATA Mute BV for a new kind of sound deadening.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Gerdes loves to work silver foliage plants like dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima) into containers, their light, shimmery leaves brightening up the garden.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
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Chicken and rice is a satisfying choice for brightening anyone's day.—
Emma Ashe,
Southern Living,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dulling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulling. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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