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
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
Insisting on noninterference, Beijing offers foreign leaders capital and legitimacy without requiring transparency, human rights safeguards, or competitive elections—a model that strengthens incumbents and dulls democratic accountability.
—Jane Harman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2025
None of that dulls the original game, nor its portrayal of Alma.
—Will Borger, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Its influence ricocheted through decades of homages, from Madonna to Ryan Gosling, proof that a perfect jewel-box tableau never dulls.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
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
Insisting on noninterference, Beijing offers foreign leaders capital and legitimacy without requiring transparency, human rights safeguards, or competitive elections—a model that strengthens incumbents and dulls democratic accountability.
—Jane Harman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2025
None of that dulls the original game, nor its portrayal of Alma.
—Will Borger, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Its influence ricocheted through decades of homages, from Madonna to Ryan Gosling, proof that a perfect jewel-box tableau never dulls.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulls
Verb
-
This is a time of giving and getting support, because practical care reduces friction.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The revolutionary pharoah builds a great city and reduces spiritual chaos by focusing on a single-minded form of worship.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As Henry’s memory fades, Caroline must navigate the unimaginable journey of losing her lifelong partner while finding strength in a new friendship.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Miami outscored Brooklyn 33-23 in the final period, the kind of quarter where the floor opens up, rotations soften and playmaking becomes easier as competitiveness fades down the stretch.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 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
-
As the weather brightens for both Burberry and Lee, the house has entered the 170th anniversary of its foundation by Thomas Burberry back in 1856.—
Luke Leitch,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Self-expression softens and brightens as Mercury and free-loving Venus meet in your sign, centering self-appreciation.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Maybe the immediate need diminishes a bit after free agency.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
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,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That means the batteries can keep the power on during prolonged severe weather events, peak summer demand, or just a particularly cloudy week that weakens solar power.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
First, the skull weakens and distorts sound waves.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
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For Sanders, landing and holding a blue-chip defensive back during a losing season is a massive recruiting win that blunts any narratives of recruits fleeing the program.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulls. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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