1
as in blunt
lacking sharpness of edge or point
the dull knife just bounced off the skin of the tomato without cutting it
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dull
Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2025
OnePlus Nord 4 for £399: With a metal unibody, the Nord 4 stands out among the dull phone designs in this price bracket.
—Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2025
Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2025
Nearly 40 years had dulled memories of the 1918 pandemic, while the development of antibiotics had lessened the threat of the deadly pneumonia that can accompany influenza.
—Alexandra M. Lord, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
This handsome pattern will add just enough visual interest to an otherwise dull space.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2025
OnePlus Nord 4 for £399: With a metal unibody, the Nord 4 stands out among the dull phone designs in this price bracket.
—Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
Dust and grime can quickly dull the light streaming in, so a good cleaning routine can make all the difference.
—Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2025
Nearly 40 years had dulled memories of the 1918 pandemic, while the development of antibiotics had lessened the threat of the deadly pneumonia that can accompany influenza.
—Alexandra M. Lord, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
-
Palico's attacks with blunt weapons do not inflict stun and exhaust damages.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Trump’s disruptive and at times blunt methods brought us here.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Then Saturday, Columbus sputtered to a disappointing (and boring) scoreless draw at home against the Houston Dynamo, one of the weakest MLS teams.—
Andrew King,
Axios,
11 Mar. 2025
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Literature that doesn’t contain its own version of this deal—literature that tries to freeze-frame reality instead of transmuting it—is often boring, even alienating.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This is a relaxed, easygoing day; however, communications are a bit hazy and could be easily misunderstood.—
Georgia Nicols,
The Denver Post,
2 Mar. 2025
-
From that point on, her memory is hazy, according to the suit.—
Claire Healy,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In one snap, their son, Bronze smiled in the front seat of a mini, matte black Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
8 Jan. 2025
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But unlike most matte lip products, this viral formula doesn't feel drying on the lips, courtesy of a whole host of skin-loving ingredients such as vitamin E, cotton seed oil, green tea oil and mango oil.—
Denise Primbet,
Glamour,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Gray and faded whiskers may be changed to their natural color and even brown or black by using Buckingham dye – try it.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Groom indoor foliage to remove old leaves, faded flowers and declining portions.—
Tom MacCubbin,
Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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When Luca pulls a gun on him, ordering him to drive, Spencer quickly disarms him and then slaps him for the stupid move.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
9 Mar. 2025
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Indexing gives you a better chance to ‘be less stupid.’ — Investment advisor Barry Ritholtz Those dismal statistics come to us via the latest annual SPIVA scorecard (the acronym stands for Standard and Poor’s Index vs. Active).—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Color choices include dun, icy blue, gray, Pacific blue, soft rose, and white.—
Terri Williams,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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It’s constructed from a soft and flexible silicone material that feels comfortable on (unlike some of the rock-hard plastic options out there).—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Stay Here: Christian Louboutin’s Vermelho (a Relais & Châteaux property in the sleepy village of Melides) is a true visual feast.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2025
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Eco-friendly boutique shops, trendy coffee spots, and cafes selling poke bowls have also popped up throughout the sleepy coastal town.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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