1
as in dull
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dulled
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026
Brady, who’s known to cover all his bases, brought pages and pages of notes and an avalanche of facts that dulled the show.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
That fun, high-energy performance by Sabrina Impacciatore was just what this building needed after a lengthy parade of nations that dulled the atmosphere a bit.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
The men were loose-brained now, dulled by aguardiente and whatever narcotic Grejo had shot into himself, but the morning sun might deliver a hard-nosed clarity, the kind that could get Adi killed.
—Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The tool is a soft-hammer retoucher — a specialized tool used to sharpen dulled flint handaxes.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026
That setback hasn’t dulled the second-year quarterback’s respect for Allen.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Firing Alonso, just eight months after appointing him to bring a fresh modern approach to the team, might have dulled some of the pain that Perez and other Madridistas were feeling after regular blows through this season, with Sunday’s Supercopa 3-2 final defeat by Barcelona the latest.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Pregnancy hasn’t dulled her drive.
—Holly Alvarado, Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
If the edges of the clippers have dulled, wiping down the blades with WD-40.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026
Brady, who’s known to cover all his bases, brought pages and pages of notes and an avalanche of facts that dulled the show.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
That fun, high-energy performance by Sabrina Impacciatore was just what this building needed after a lengthy parade of nations that dulled the atmosphere a bit.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
The men were loose-brained now, dulled by aguardiente and whatever narcotic Grejo had shot into himself, but the morning sun might deliver a hard-nosed clarity, the kind that could get Adi killed.
—Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The tool is a soft-hammer retoucher — a specialized tool used to sharpen dulled flint handaxes.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026
That setback hasn’t dulled the second-year quarterback’s respect for Allen.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Firing Alonso, just eight months after appointing him to bring a fresh modern approach to the team, might have dulled some of the pain that Perez and other Madridistas were feeling after regular blows through this season, with Sunday’s Supercopa 3-2 final defeat by Barcelona the latest.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Pregnancy hasn’t dulled her drive.
—Holly Alvarado, Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulled
Adjective
-
But all work and no play can make for a dull chief medical officer.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
30 Jan. 2026
-
People living in Bridgeville were excited to see dull pavement.—
Chris Hoffman,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Manny Pacquiao’s attempt to extend his boxing career toward an Olympic appearance at 45 ran into age‑limit rules and concerns about the optics and health risks of watching a faded great take more punishment.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The latter sees a faded star eyeing a possible comeback and encountering all sorts of ghosts from his past.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Flat, calm but earnest, mildly anxious, blunted, volatile.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The amount taxpayers can write off is reduced by $200 for each $1,000 in income above the $100,00 and $200,000 income limits.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In other experiments, Zatorre found that bolstering dopamine enhanced the enjoyment of music, while blocking dopamine reduced it.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even better, Liu does it all while flaunting her signature bleached halo-dye hairstyle and smiley piercing.—
Jasmine Wynn,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The new ad from the appliance retailer peeks into an alternate reality in which Fieri never grew a goatee, never bleached his spikes, and wore drab button-ups and dress slacks.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The long-wearing formula sets to a semi-matte finish that resists oil and humidity, too.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
26 Nov. 2025
-
The 42 mm case wears well thanks to ergonomically short lugs and restrained proportions, on a semi-matte alligator strap with a flamboyant yellow lining.—
Thor Svaboe,
Robb Report,
12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
These pale pink nails are accented with jade motifs, bright red strokes, and plum blossoms to signal hope and renewal.—
Odeya Pinkus,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The striking look, from Erdem’s fall 2026 collection, centered on a pale pink gown with crystal embroidery and an explosive tulle skirt—replete with a matching pink tulle veil.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And while she’s known for experimenting with her look — from waist-length neon wigs to sleek blunt bobs — Cardi has shown that her natural hair is full and long, stretching down her back.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Its descriptively blunt autobiographical accounts of palpable angst start off reserved—but never boring—and slowly blossom into an explosive finish.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dulled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulled. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
