as in deadening
Related Words
Relevance
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
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 dulling
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
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
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
Verb
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulling
Verb
-
Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Permeable pavers allow rainwater to soak into the ground, reducing flood risk, while offering an upscale look.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Clove water contains compounds with mild numbing and anti-inflammatory effects.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Some critics and documentary filmmakers say that mandate is reductive and numbing.—
Michael Powell,
New York Times,
25 Sep. 2022
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
But her role as fading movie star Kay Stone in Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, opposite Timothée Chalamet, marks her grand return.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The days of underground stashes and whispered conversations are fading fast.—
Amplified Content Studio,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Perry died in 2023 at age 54 from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine with drowning a contributing factor.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share