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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hazy
covered over by clouds
dull skies plagued most of our vacation days at the beach
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in matte
lacking a surface luster or gloss
a good polish should restore that car's dull finish
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dull
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2025
Miracle leave-in product: on sale for $28 (30% off)
Original price: $40
(Ulta)
Dealing with dull or damaged hair?
—Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Avery Lotz, Axios, 18 Mar. 2025
An over-reliance on biography can dull a music doc, turning it into a paint-by-numbers enterprise, but just the right amount can bolster it.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
That being said, if a package of beef looks a bit brown, reddish-brown, or a more dull pink, this doesn’t necessarily mean the meat is bad, Brekke confirms.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2025
Miracle leave-in product: on sale for $28 (30% off)
Original price: $40
(Ulta)
Dealing with dull or damaged hair?
—Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
Garrett Reisman, a former NASA astronaut who spent 95 days in space, told CNN earlier this week that the fluid shift in space also dulls smell and taste.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 18 Mar. 2025
An over-reliance on biography can dull a music doc, turning it into a paint-by-numbers enterprise, but just the right amount can bolster it.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
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Autopsy results revealed that Morin had endured 15 to 20 blows to the head and had died from a combination of strangulation and blunt force trauma.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Not to be blunt, but there’s really no good excuse to skip SPF application, regardless of your skin tone or skin type.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Camilla told Newsweek that her husband, Linford, 32, works as a tunnel boring machine operator in London.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
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Take it from this guy, who bought the beautiful Starfield limited-edition Xbox controller, headset, and console wrap for over $200, only to play the game and dump it after 20 boring hours.—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Japanese photographer has produced a series of hazy images that play with perspective and reflections to showcase multiple angles of the women’s collection designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri, which is set to be unveiled on April 15 in the garden of Tō-ji Temple in Kyoto.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
9 Apr. 2025
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Even sketchier are characters like Isaac and Hanrahan, ruthless military types who never really transcend that hazy description despite being played by formidable actors Jeffrey Wright and Alanna Ubach, respectively.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Like Napoleon’s Uncle Rico, who dwells on his long-ago high-school-football days, Garrett is living in the faded aura of past glory: in his case, a 1989 video-game championship.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2025
-
As thousands of migrants cycled through its faded lobby, the Roosevelt turned into a lightning rod in the country’s immigration debate: both as a reminder of the depth of the crisis and as shorthand for critics opposed to the expenditure of taxpayer money on migrants.—
Luis Ferré-Sadurní,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Friendships built on insecurity, where men constantly have to prove their manhood, are a breeding ground for toxic attitudes and stupid decision-making.—
Terry Ward,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2025
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Also, his team told him over the radio, basically, don’t do anything stupid, Nato is going to be penalized for not using all his Attack Mode.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Crafted from lightweight, sturdy beechwood, this pro-kneading, lymphatic-draining tool is designed with soft, rounded edges that make for comfy gliding across your skin (go ahead and pair it with a serum or lotion for extra slip).—
Allure,
Allure,
14 Apr. 2025
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The Lightweight Sweats Classic Zip Hoodie is incredibly soft and pairs beautifully with their ultra-soft ribbed pieces like the Ribbed Modal Body Long Sleeve.—
Sarah Boyd,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Turning off bright bedroom-ceiling lights and flicking on table or floor lamps can help your brain ease into sleepy mode each evening.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
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Submissions already include some stunning wildlife photography, including a sleepy lion cub on a dirt road, a mountain goat standing in a field of wildflowers, and a rhinoceros strolling in India.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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