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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dulling
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 June 2026
The danger is heavy-handed protections for Eskom will suppress wholesale prices, dulling market signals investors need for further investment in the sector, and effectively rebranding the old monopoly.
—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
At some point, the bracket creep is going to overreach into the point of diminishing marginal returns — dulling regular seasons and perhaps ultimately even eventually interest in the postseasons.
—
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2026
Glycolic acid removes dead, dulling surface cells to reveal more radiant skin and help vitamin C penetrate skin more effectively.
—
ABC News,
19 May 2026
The al fresco dining area is covered with beige tents, dulling the landscape.
—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
1 May 2026
At Source puts seven years of joint practice and mutual magnetism to tape without dulling the dynamic buzz of their live sets.
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Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
2 Mar. 2026
Also, don't store beans or ground coffee in the refrigerator—the coffee may absorb moisture and odors, dulling its flavor.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
There are gobs of money to be made selling enterprise software, but dulling the impact of AI is also a useful feint.
—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Blurring bamboo silk powders keep shine in check without dulling skin, while camellia seed oil and antioxidant-rich vitamin E help mature complexions look smooth, hydrated, and naturally luminous.
—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 June 2026
The danger is heavy-handed protections for Eskom will suppress wholesale prices, dulling market signals investors need for further investment in the sector, and effectively rebranding the old monopoly.
—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
At some point, the bracket creep is going to overreach into the point of diminishing marginal returns — dulling regular seasons and perhaps ultimately even eventually interest in the postseasons.
—
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2026
Glycolic acid removes dead, dulling surface cells to reveal more radiant skin and help vitamin C penetrate skin more effectively.
—
ABC News,
19 May 2026
The al fresco dining area is covered with beige tents, dulling the landscape.
—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
1 May 2026
At Source puts seven years of joint practice and mutual magnetism to tape without dulling the dynamic buzz of their live sets.
—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
2 Mar. 2026
Also, don't store beans or ground coffee in the refrigerator—the coffee may absorb moisture and odors, dulling its flavor.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
There are gobs of money to be made selling enterprise software, but dulling the impact of AI is also a useful feint.
—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulling
Adjective
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The result can appear not only as exhaustion, but also irritability, decreased concentration, emotional numbing, sleep disruption, and heightened anxiety.
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Now after four years of ongoing horrors in Ukraine, and more than two years of watching slaughter and suffering in Gaza, the latest war filling our feeds is just another numbing form of content, a digital arena in which competing forces try to assert conflicting viewpoints.
Verb
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Manucurist formulates its masks with panthenol, a form of vitamin B5, to hydrate and strengthen dry nails over time, reducing breakage.
-
Even tiny electromagnetic disturbances can disrupt the quantum states that perform calculations, reducing the accuracy and reliability of the system.
Verb
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Nolasco said a taper is the favorite haircut these days and there’s also players bleaching their hair blond for the playoffs.
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Justine Skye took this mousy brown look to the next level by bleaching her brows to match.
Adjective
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Because there is a depersonalized, anesthetic quality to it.
-
Any anesthetic product used on the toad must contain 20% benzocaine or lidocaine.
Verb
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Greg Jaffe and Kate Kelly Politicians and officials in Mexico are using the country’s laws to intimidate critics and the media, forcing them into censorship and blunting scrutiny.
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The body adapts to the daily dose, blunting caffeine’s impact on blood pressure, mental alertness and exercise performance.
Verb
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More than a week after the disaster, search-and-rescue operations remain active, though hopes of finding additional survivors are rapidly fading.
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Thousands remain missing more than a week after the twin earthquakes struck Venezuela and hope for finding survivors is fading into and effort to recover remains.
Adjective
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Individuals who remain in the class and submit valid claims release their rights to sue Cargill or Tyson over the same allegations, but retain any rights against non-settling defendants.
Verb
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Sam Lambert laid down a safety squeeze, deadening the ball in front of the plate and scoring Balls to trim the lead to 3-1.
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Another suggestion was requiring special sound-deadening balls, currently available, that lower the decibel levels considerably.
Cite this Entry
“Dulling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulling. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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