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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dull
Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Before this rather dull international incident, Superman has journeyed into a pocket alternate universe where Luthor stashes and tortures anyone who’s tried to thwart him.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 8 July 2025
David Litt
june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025
The trade-off with vertical slots is that the tip of your blades will rest up against the block material and may dull over time.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Adjective
As tennis matches generally tend to go on longer, and some five-setters can become dull for long stretches, the best-of-three version has benefits.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Before this rather dull international incident, Superman has journeyed into a pocket alternate universe where Luthor stashes and tortures anyone who’s tried to thwart him.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 8 July 2025
Verb
Even when exhaustion dulled my vigilance, my worries didn’t disappear.
—David Litt
june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025
The trade-off with vertical slots is that the tip of your blades will rest up against the block material and may dull over time.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 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
-
The real world is monochromatic, straightforward, boring.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Exercisers and health experts are asking whether the benefits of outdoor exercise are negated when the skies are hazy with wildfire smoke.—
John C. Quindry,
The Conversation,
10 July 2025
-
The Milky Way is our home galaxy, a vast spiral of stars, dust and cosmic wonder stretching across the sky like a hazy, glowing river.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
3 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
-
Expected soft opening: August 2025 Details: 1325 Grand Ave., Suite 6, Phoenix.—
Bahar Anooshahr,
AZCentral.com,
21 July 2025
-
Those soft ticket sales suggest that nostalgia isn’t nearly as potent as Sony might have hoped when greenlighting the slasher sequel and reuniting the original 1998 film’s stars, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
Usyk and Dubois have some work to do to save a pretty sleepy event in London.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
-
At the time, Positano was still a sleepy fishing village.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dull. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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