1
as in blunt
lacking sharpness of edge or point
the dull knife just bounced off the skin of the tomato without cutting it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
a dull dance recital that made us wish that we were someplace else
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3
as in hazy
covered over by clouds
dull skies plagued most of our vacation days at the beach
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4
as in matte
lacking a surface luster or gloss
a good polish should restore that car's dull finish
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5
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
that canvas shirt should fade to an attractive, dull red over time
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6
as in stupid
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily
the importance of the discovery was lost on the dull minds of his colleagues
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7
as in soft
not loud in pitch or volume
a dull roar from the distance
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8
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
a dull market for luxury goods this holiday season
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1
as in to blunt
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the aspirin dulled his headache and he was soon feeling better
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2
as in to bleach
to make white or lighter by removing color
the painting's once-vivid colors have been dulled by time
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variants
also dulness
as in thickness
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind
the dullness of the characters in horror movies cannot be overstated
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dull
Air Mail, 10 May 2025
But warm, colorful streets bustling with people who greet the Doctor like family lead to a dull, deserted alley with missing posters and warnings to stay away.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 10 May 2025
Nick Caruso, TVLine, 7 May 2025
But in both cases, the same truth applies: habituation dulls the senses, while novelty reignites them.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
But for the uninitiated, the question of which pencil to stake your claim on can be either daunting or dull.
—Air Mail, 10 May 2025
But warm, colorful streets bustling with people who greet the Doctor like family lead to a dull, deserted alley with missing posters and warnings to stay away.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 10 May 2025
Verb
In the last couple episodes, dude seemed to chill out and dull down his sharper edges.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 7 May 2025
But in both cases, the same truth applies: habituation dulls the senses, while novelty reignites them.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
-
Her brand features blunt honesty and humor, as well as fashion, beauty, and lifestyle tips.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
-
City’s video tribute was a tear-jerker, and less hardy characters than De Bruyne — nicknamed ‘the tumble dryer’ due to his dry (and blunt) approach — would surely have cracked and let the tears roll.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
Belief that your institution is exempt from the hard, functional and often boring parts of the job leads to a slow decline.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
Organizations that foster a culture of self-compassion can empower their employees to better navigate stress, maintain their well-being, and - perhaps boring but no less important - adhere to safety protocols.—
Ellen Choi,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
The image is hazy because the low light and long exposures can add digital noise to Perseverance's images.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
16 May 2025
-
Skyscrapers towered over a hazy, Saharan landscape — a vibrant melting pot of modernist and historical sites and structures, situated on a confluence of the Nile River.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
This Lulus bag is primarily matte and clean, with just a tinge of silver on the top handle and cutesy bow.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
People.com,
22 Feb. 2025
-
To get this result, Dempsey recommends the Dior Addict Lip Tint for its transfer-proof, semi-matte finish.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Her devotees are still sweating through workouts at a faded gym in Queens.—
Alex Vadukul,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
-
It’s all come a long way from Tennant’s time in a house of eight girls at university, laundry drying racks layered with shapeless, faded underwear.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Not just on the training pitch but in the dorm rooms, talking about the future and giggling at stupid jokes.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
-
President Donald Trump said only stupid people would refuse a $400 million gift.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
Since then, only a few structural modifications and modern changes have been made—wood-burning stoves were replaced by propane heaters, and horses and mules were swapped for llamas (their feet are softer and less damaging to the ground).—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
21 May 2025
-
Iñárritu also used his Cannes visit as a soft launch for his next wild experiment, with Tom Cruise.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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When Tommy leaves to bring his sleepy son home, Maria revisits her and Joel’s conversation about refugees.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
18 May 2025
-
Photos of my kid's birthday parties are no longer me with bleary, sleepy drinking eyes.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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