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 dumb
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
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 24 July 2025
Despite the midcentury flair, the film is dull as dishwater visually.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 24 July 2025
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2025
Lifestyle majorly affects your skin: Even things like a poor diet, excessive alcohol intake, and smoking can dull your glow, says Rachel Wilson, product development manager and esthetician at Burke Williams Spa.
—Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
From excess oil and irritation to dull skin and antiaging, Korean toner pads reflect K-beauty’s signature balance of skin-first tradition and cutting-edge innovation.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 24 July 2025
Despite the midcentury flair, the film is dull as dishwater visually.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 24 July 2025
Verb
All of these shows relying on a romantic choice between siblings instead of other dramatic tension is dulling audiences’ acceptance of this kind of story.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2025
Lifestyle majorly affects your skin: Even things like a poor diet, excessive alcohol intake, and smoking can dull your glow, says Rachel Wilson, product development manager and esthetician at Burke Williams Spa.
—Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dull
Adjective
-
The cause of death was traumatic blunt force injuries.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
21 July 2025
-
The magnetized tank struck the child, who died of blunt force trauma injuries.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
Hunter: The Reckoning puts players in the role of regular people who know monsters are real and can’t go back to their old, boring lives.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
Take away the road courses or boring ovals and race more street courses.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Binoculars show it as a hazy spot of light, but its full splendor is revealed only through a large telescope.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
28 July 2025
-
The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed hazy skies and the smell of smoke across the region, attributing the conditions to smoke trapped in a sinking air mass above the Northeast.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Staining not only revives faded wood but also helps protect it from sun, moisture and insects.—
Angie Hicks,
Boston Herald,
27 June 2025
-
Select a faded flower and follow the stem down, cutting it 12 inches or more below the bloom, deep into the plant to encourage more long stems.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
-
Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Adjective
-
Paint your walls in a softer, creamier yellow, for example.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
1 Aug. 2025
-
On the data side, expect the major economic reports to face a greater level of scrutiny following Friday’s soft jobs report and ugly downward revisions.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, both parties are stepping up their efforts to win control of state legislatures across the country, shining a fresh light on races that have long been considered sleepy affairs.—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
31 July 2025
-
As the sleepy sports calendar did its usual job of throttling Peacock’s momentum on the customer-acquisition front, the losses at Comcast’s legacy cable unit were similarly predictable.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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