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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dull
Bridget Arsenault, airmail.news, 15 Mar. 2025
Go for glass Metallic finishes keep a dark bathroom from feeling dull.
—Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025
Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 7 Feb. 2025
And a charming atmosphere, reinforced by a warm visual language (Marc Spicer serves as DP), dulls the creepiness of those early drops.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
Now starring alongside Cate Blanchett in both Black Bag and The Seagull, the British actor opens up about overcoming extreme shyness
March 15, 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Tom Burke is incapable of being dull.
—Bridget Arsenault, airmail.news, 15 Mar. 2025
Go for glass Metallic finishes keep a dark bathroom from feeling dull.
—Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
Mother’s plea For Russell, the ache of losing Sarah – her only child – hasn’t dulled with time.
—Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 7 Feb. 2025
And a charming atmosphere, reinforced by a warm visual language (Marc Spicer serves as DP), dulls the creepiness of those early drops.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
-
They were forced to their knees and guards shaved their heads and faces with blunt swoops of an electric razor.—
Josh Meyer,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
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While metal grooming tools can seem intense, they are typically designed with blunt or curved teeth to ensure that no sharp edge ever comes in contact with your cat’s skin.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Transform boring tasks into challenges with stakes, rewards, and achievements.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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Broberg’s heartbreaking overtime winner Some overtimes are boring, with teams methodically regrouping.—
Harman Dayal,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Thin lines and hazy glowing colors make the towering, randomized geometric structures look like something from a French comic book.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Recall what the natural 2024 total solar eclipse looked like: a hazy white halo around a dark circle.—
Monisha Ravisetti,
Space.com,
12 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
-
Gap High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans These wide-leg jeans are designed in a light blue wash with whiskered and faded details, and flared, bell-like hems.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
People.com,
20 Mar. 2025
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While the original, faded version of the Declaration is housed at the National Archives, the copy in the Oval Office appears to feature clear and legible text.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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His is a sort of erudite buffoonery that consistently tap-dances between clever, self-aware, and patently stupid.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
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Each of them loses track of a CD filled with secrets, and some end up dying in the stupidest possible ways because of their incompetence.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Step 4: Apply the solution and scrub the carpet Apply the solution to the carpet and use a soft upholstery brush to scrub it in, working in small sections.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
22 Mar. 2025
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Founded in 1879, The Glenrothes is a Speyside single malt producer that often highlights a few key aspects of its whisky production: very soft (low mineral content) water, vibrant and fruity new-make spirit, and the hallmark floral notes that develop in its highly aged stocks.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The historic start The Wild had been sleepy starters recently, giving up the first goal in each of their last six games.—
Joe Smith,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Today the old town seems to have retreated into a kind of sleepy Norman Rockwell innocence: the distant drone of a lawn mower, the call of kids playing catch, the smoky aromas of a barbecue.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
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