1
as in reduces
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the aspirin dulled his headache and he was soon feeling better
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fades
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 dulls
After months of cold weather, your windows are likely coated with a layer of grime that dulls your view and makes even the brightest day feel a little gray.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
The blade is made of 440A stainless steel, which is reasonably durable for lighter use, but dulls relatively fast and is softer overall.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2026
The common expectation is that loss dulls over time, that the sharp edges round off.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
To Prevent Dull Edges Chef's Knives A sharp chef's knife can make or break your dinner prep, and putting it in the dishwasher dulls the blade over time.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
His muscles waste, his mind dulls, his body collapses inward until only a voice remains, thin and disembodied.
—Gilberto Lopes, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
The repetition dulls whatever voltage the pairing once carried.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2026
Yes, the glossy aesthetic occasionally dulls the impact of the director’s more tactile sensibilities, and a few script contrivances stretch believability.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Grounding Is the Way Back Too much technical connection dulls intuition; many leaders describe their clearest thinking happening away from screens.
—C200, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
The blade is made of 440A stainless steel, which is reasonably durable for lighter use, but dulls relatively fast and is softer overall.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2026
The common expectation is that loss dulls over time, that the sharp edges round off.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
To Prevent Dull Edges Chef's Knives A sharp chef's knife can make or break your dinner prep, and putting it in the dishwasher dulls the blade over time.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
His muscles waste, his mind dulls, his body collapses inward until only a voice remains, thin and disembodied.
—Gilberto Lopes, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
The repetition dulls whatever voltage the pairing once carried.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2026
Yes, the glossy aesthetic occasionally dulls the impact of the director’s more tactile sensibilities, and a few script contrivances stretch believability.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Grounding Is the Way Back Too much technical connection dulls intuition; many leaders describe their clearest thinking happening away from screens.
—C200, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulls
Verb
-
By banning advertising by legal operators during live sporting events and sharply limiting promotions, the proposal drastically reduces the visibility of the regulated market.—
Cláudia Nunes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Technologies such as Revo-Su, which significantly reduces water consumption, and B210, which enables biodegradability in stretch fabrics, are direct outcomes of this focus.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The animation is crisp and gorgeous, and there are a few moments of stylization — such as when the main character Coco floats in the air with her mentor Qifrey and the world around them fades from frame — that captures a taste of what makes the manga such a visual triumph.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Most regular solo diners say discomfort fades after the first few times trying it.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is the type of consistency that numbs fans from their love of the game.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Cold water immersion constricts blood vessels, reduces swelling, numbs sore areas, and flushes lactic acid from the muscles.—
Outside,
Outside,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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His owner, Hannah Gleason from Oklahoma, told Newsweek that the merle gene isn’t a coloring gene rather than a gene that bleaches the fur and causes lack of pigmentation which can lead to birth defects, blindness, deafness, or sometimes all three.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Now, as March brightens into April, the half-dozen lawmakers charged with crafting that gargantuan document are nearly finished.—
The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Lush, vibrant and full of life, California Tropicals instantly brightens any space while adding fresh, feel-good energy.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Similar to airline tickets or ride-sharing fares, prices may rise when demand exceeds available seats and fall when demand weakens.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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This shift ignores local differences and weakens a decentralized model that has allowed rules to be tailored to the realities of each state.—
Cláudia Nunes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The cinematography drains vitality from even its most visually obvious ideas with lighting that blunts the impact of nearly every other department.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2026
-
By this decade, your body has started to naturally lose muscle mass, and putting on new muscle may be more difficult due to anabolic resistance, which blunts the muscle’s ability to respond to external stimuli like exercise and protein.—
Emma Loewe,
Outside,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulls. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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