dull

[ duhl ]

See synonyms for: dull dulled duller dulling on Thesaurus.com

adjective,dull·er, dull·est.

not sharp; blunt: a dull knife.
causing boredom; tedious; uninteresting: a dull sermon.

not lively or spirited; listless.
not bright, intense, or clear; dim: a dull day; a dull sound.
having very little depth of color; lacking in richness or intensity of color.
slow in motion or action; not brisk; sluggish: a dull day in the stock market.
mentally slow; lacking brightness of mind; somewhat stupid; obtuse.
lacking keenness of perception in the senses or feelings; insensible; unfeeling.
not intense or acute: a dull pain.

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become dull.

Origin of dull

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English; akin to Old English dol “foolish, stupid”; cognate with German toll

synonym study For dull

1. Dull, blunt refer to the edge or point of an instrument, tool, or the like. Dull implies a lack or a loss of keenness or sharpness: a dull razor or saw. Blunt may mean the same or may refer to an edge or point not intended to be keen or sharp: a blunt or stub pen; a blunt foil. 7. Dull, blunt, slow, stupid are applied to mental qualities. Dull implies obtuseness, lack of imagination: a dull child. Blunt implies loss of original keenness of intelligence through disease, sad experience, or the like: His critical faculties were blunt. Slow applies to a sluggish intellect: a slow mind. Stupid implies slowness of mental processes, but also lack of intelligence, wisdom, prudence, etc.: a stupid person.

Other words for dull

2	boring, tiresome, dreary, vapid
3	apathetic, torpid, inactive, inert
7	unimaginative, unintelligent, stolid
10	blunt, deaden, benumb; depress, dishearten, discourage

See synonyms for dull on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for dull

1	sharp, keen
2	interesting
7	bright

See antonyms for dull on Thesaurus.com

Other words from dull

dullness, dulness, noun
dully, adverb
un·dulled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dull in a sentence

When we did these exercises in person, our room would be full of energy and excitement, but when I’d drop into online conversations, they were typically more dull and distracted.
Innovation just isn’t happening over Zoom | matthewheimer | December 17, 2020 | Fortune
If there are noticeable signs of wear, such as missing chunks or a dull tip, that’s a sign the sponge should be thrown out.
Bacteria can grow on your neglected makeup and brushes. Here’s what to toss and what to clean. | Allyson Chiu | December 17, 2020 | Washington Post
On the other hand, a simpler game with fewer pieces and rules may be easy to explain, but too dull to warrant repeating often, especially if it’s based on competitive rounds.
Best board games: Five things to consider | PopSci Commerce Team | December 10, 2020 | Popular-Science
This homogenization has also affected our habits as travelers and somewhat dulled our sense of curiosity.
What Did the Past Smell Like? - Issue 93: Forerunners | Ann-Sophie Barwich | December 9, 2020 | Nautilus
Telling people that their suffering would be useful triggered the production of the body’s own version of opioids and cannabinoids to dull the pain.
Exercise Blocks Pain, But Only For Believers | Alex Hutchinson | December 9, 2020 | Outside Online

The frequent viewing, though, introduces a problem that rubbernecking never had—the dulling and inuring effects of repetition.
Kevin Ware’s Broken Leg Will Live On in the Annals of Grisly Injuries | Kent Sepkowitz | April 1, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
I should merely be dulling your appetite, without satisfying your hunger.
Daisy Ashford: Her Book | Daisy Ashford
At the instant came a vast grumbling, like underground 136 thunder, not loud apparently, yet dulling all other sounds.
The Backwoodsmen | Charles G. D. Roberts
I suppose it is almost impossible for us to appreciate the effect of sin in clouding vision and dulling sympathy.
Our Lady Saint Mary | J. G. H. Barry
The chime of the silver bells floated on the still air, dulling the sound of the seven strong brothers' footsteps.
Stories from the Ballads | Mary MacGregor
Then there is another cause for the dulling of a wife's bright charm—her inferior position in the eyes of the law.
Married Love | Marie Carmichael Stopes

British Dictionary definitions for dull

dull

/ (dʌl) /

adjective

slow to think or understand; stupid
lacking in interest

lacking in perception or the ability to respond; insensitive
lacking sharpness; blunt
not acute, intense, or piercing
(of weather) not bright or clear; cloudy
not active, busy, or brisk
lacking in spirit or animation; listless
(of colour) lacking brilliance or brightness; sombre
not loud or clear; muffled
med (of sound elicited by percussion, esp of the chest) not resonant

verb

to make or become dull

Origin of dull

Old English dol; related to Old Norse dul conceit, Old High German tol foolish, Greek tholeros confused

Derived forms of dull

dullish, adjective
dullness or dulness, noun
dully, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with dull

dull

In addition to the idiom beginning with dull

dull as dishwater

also see:

never a dull moment

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