1
as in matte
lacking a surface luster or gloss
it might be best to paint the exposed pipes with a dulled enamel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
the dulled colors and brownish tones are characteristic of this painter's works
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in blunted
lacking sharpness of edge or point
the dulled blade of a knife that had been stored in a drawer full of miscellaneous utensils
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in reduced
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 bleached
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 dulled
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
Even when the Dodgers find a glimmer, it has been dulled rather quickly.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
My sleep was fractured, my health declined, my decisions dulled, and my confidence wavered.
—Daisy Auger-Domínguez, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Time hasn’t dulled the impact of the Evija’s design.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2025
Armani beauty’s high-wattage celebrity power has never dulled and spans generations.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
Syracuse University professor Dimitar Gueorguiev warned that TikTok’s edge has dulled.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
Even when the Dodgers find a glimmer, it has been dulled rather quickly.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
My sleep was fractured, my health declined, my decisions dulled, and my confidence wavered.
—Daisy Auger-Domínguez, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Time hasn’t dulled the impact of the Evija’s design.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2025
Armani beauty’s high-wattage celebrity power has never dulled and spans generations.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulled
Adjective
-
Gone are the days of the ultra-matte liquid lipstick.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
10 Sep. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
Williams, in a faded plaid shirt, gray hair sprouting from under a John Deere hat, paced.—
Molly Parker,
ProPublica,
4 Sep. 2025
-
While some might have a faded tie-dye shirt in the back of their closet and listen to the occasional Grateful Dead album, seniors across the spectrum are turning to cannabis—many for the first time.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The phasing in of the wage increase seems to have blunted the referendum effort, acknowledged San Diego County Lodging Association Board Chairman Robert Gleason.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The very tool meant to sharpen medical practice had perhaps blunted it.—
Murali Doraiswamy,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The coral, now bleached, is alive, but slowly starving.—
Denise Hruby,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The only thing not bleached was, luckily, his face.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
With pale, irregular surfaces dotted with black bits of char, the homely slabs aren’t much to look at, but the first bite packs a big smoky punch that only grows with each subsequent chew.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Create a neutral fall display by grouping elegant white and pale-orange pumpkins.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Maron, who’s become an increasingly vocal critic of comedians who inadvertently, or outwardly, cater to the right, shared a particularly blunt video on TikTok that was at once a dire warning and a call to action.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Manchin’s media appearances to promote his book have already made headlines with quintessential blunt talk about his snub of former Vice President Kamala Harris and willingness to torch his old party.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Passenger travel time between Paris, Europe’s second-largest metropolitan area, and Milan, Europe’s third-largest metropolitan area, will be reduced to 4½ hours from 6½-7½ hours.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Nearly half the agency's staff has been reduced, including hundreds of FSA employees.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The agent brightened, having noticed something in my file.—
Katherine LaGrave,
AFAR Media,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Discovered in January, the green comet has brightened faster than predicted in recent weeks and now looks set to be visible from dark rural skies during October 2025.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dulled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulled. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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