dull
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.
to make or become dull.
Origin of dull
1synonym study For dull
Other words for dull
Opposites for dull
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.
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 PostOn 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-ScienceThis 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 | NautilusTelling people that their suffering would be useful triggered the production of the body’s own version of opioids and cannabinoids to dull the pain.
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 BEASTI should merely be dulling your appetite, without satisfying your hunger.
Daisy Ashford: Her Book | Daisy AshfordAt the instant came a vast grumbling, like underground 136 thunder, not loud apparently, yet dulling all other sounds.
The Backwoodsmen | Charles G. D. RobertsI 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. BarryThe chime of the silver bells floated on the still air, dulling the sound of the seven strong brothers' footsteps.
Stories from the Ballads | Mary MacGregorThen 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
/ (dʌl) /
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
to make or become dull
Origin of dull
1Derived 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
In addition to the idiom beginning with dull
- dull as dishwater
also see:
- never a dull moment
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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