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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hazy
covered over by clouds
dull skies plagued most of our vacation days at the beach
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in matte
lacking a surface luster or gloss
a good polish should restore that car's dull finish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
that canvas shirt should fade to an attractive, dull red over time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in soft
not loud in pitch or volume
a dull roar from the distance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
a dull market for luxury goods this holiday season
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to blunt
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 to bleach
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
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
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 dull
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Life without music can be pretty dull, and my speakers are my constant best friend.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Ahead, find Vogue’s top products for keeping the face radiant, smooth, and defiant to glow-dulling buildup and fuzz.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
The climactic battle feels hasty in the moment, but dragging it out any longer — or worse, having to make everyone recite the usual vampire-killing rules — would have been duller than elevator music.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Life without music can be pretty dull, and my speakers are my constant best friend.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
Three years of inactivity at the deadline, and no TV for many, helped dull the senses of die-hard Bulls fans, who expect nothing from management and are seldom disappointed.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Ahead, find Vogue’s top products for keeping the face radiant, smooth, and defiant to glow-dulling buildup and fuzz.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
-
All four were pronounced deceased at the scene as a result of blunt force injuries sustained in the crash, Allmon said.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
-
One of the men, Terry Carter, would die from multiple blunt force injuries within the hour.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
No more boring, irrelevant training modules—this is learning at the speed of work.—
Lisa Bodell,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Some of this may happen under cover of darkness, but much of it happens in the open, under cover of arcane technocracy or boring bureaucracy.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The reasons for her travels—whether to marry a man at her father’s behest or to undertake a pilgrimage to Rome—are hazy.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The details of the bet have become hazy in the intervening 35 years.—
Leila Sloman,
Quanta Magazine,
18 Apr. 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
-
Offering a 23% concentration of pure vitamin C, this formula delivers some serious brightening benefits, resulting in a more even-looking complexion and faded hyperpigmentation.—
Denise Primbet,
Glamour,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Everything below that will be flooded, according to IPCC predictions, so his maps show those areas as underwater, with what’s land today shown as a faded layer.—
Carlton Reid,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Making stupid internet fodder has never been easier than now, with the prevalence of AI image generators making everything from deepfakes to memes.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Much like the stupid prions wreaking havoc in his brain.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The result is soft, luminous skin that’s also protected from a high UV index.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
28 Apr. 2025
-
The frame is made from a soft velvet fabric that’s extremely comfortable to recline on.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In a video shared by A Dog's Hideaway, another golden called Butters was equally sleepy after hours of fun at day care.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Alice finds herself on the sleepy Little Crescent Island, hoping to interview mysterious heiress Margaret Ives.—
Maya Layne,
Vogue,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share