dulling 1 of 2

adjective

as in deadening

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dulling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dull
1
as in reducing
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling the aspirin dulled his headache and he was soon feeling better

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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

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
Verb
To protect himself, however, Trask has created an inhibitor field that de-powers any mutant nearby, dulling Wolverine’s healing power and ferocity. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 Here are the cleaning mistakes that could be dulling your hardwood floors’ shine, as well as the simple fixes to restore their finish. — Martha Stewart, 8 Aug. 2026 Your diplomatic touch can set kind boundaries without dulling your warmth. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulling
  1. numbing
  2. reducing
  3. bleaching
  4. anesthetic
  5. blunting
  6. fading
  7. settling
  8. deadening
Adjective
  • Just the unyielding betrayals of the flesh and the numbing sense that none of this had to happen.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Jane Schoenbrun’s latest movie, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, is shocking, emotional, provocative, numbing, warm, witty, and surreal.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of numbing
Verb
  • Handles up improves safety and hygiene during unloading, avoiding contact with eating surfaces and reducing injury risk.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Gormley says lifestyle changes can also help, like reducing screen time and taking more breaks from screens throughout the day.
    — Maria Godoy, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of reducing
Verb
  • The researchers first treated the cotton with sodium dithionite, a reducing agent, before bleaching it with hydrogen peroxide under alkaline conditions.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Discoloration to Your Driveway Commercial weed killers can stain driveways by leaving behind white chalky residues, bleaching the stone, or damaging protective surface sealers.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026
Definition of bleaching
Adjective
  • Because of their large size, giraffes are challenging to move and position appropriately for anesthetic procedures.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026
  • Because there is a depersonalized, anesthetic quality to it.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026
Definition of anesthetic
Verb
  • The law is aimed at blunting financial scams that often target older adults, which frequently include prompting victims to withdraw large sums of money at once.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Semaglutide can hook into this system, blunting the usual pleasure from eating high-fat and sugary treats.
    — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of blunting
Verb
  • The historic watchmaker, which clocked nearly two centuries in the industry before fading into obscurity in the early 1990s, has officially relaunched with the help of Breitling.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The possibility of finding survivors ​elsewhere ⁠was fading, authorities said, but there was no letup in rescue operations as teams scoured the mountainside along the border with China where floods tore through towns and valleys.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of fading
Adjective
  • Dylan’s attorney, Kerry Garvis Wright, countered by saying a non-settling defendant such as Scott is only entitled to an offset for settlement of economic damages.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • 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.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Definition of settling
Verb
  • Each presents a group portrait of a handful of disaffected British suburbanites—husbands who resent their deadening jobs, toddlers who whine and interrupt, and, above all, hassled wives subsumed by a crush of household obligations.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • 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.
    — Dave Montrose, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026
Definition of deadening

Browse Nearby Words

dulled
dulling
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Cite this Entry

“Dulling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulling. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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