Definitions and Synonyms of dull | Another word for dull | What is dull?
Definition 1: become dull or lusterless in appearance; lose shine or brightness - [verb of change]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- the varnished table top dulled with time
(dull is a kind of ...) undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
"She changed completely as she grew older" "The weather changed last night"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- the varnished table top dulled with time
(dull is a kind of ...) undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
"She changed completely as she grew older" "The weather changed last night"Definition 2: make less lively or vigorous - [verb of change]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- Middle age dulled her appetite for travel
(dull is a kind of ...) become weaker
"The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days" (... is a kind of dull ) make milky or dull
"The chemical clouded the liquid to which it was added"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- Middle age dulled her appetite for travel
(dull is a kind of ...) become weaker
"The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days"(... is a kind of dull ) make milky or dull
"The chemical clouded the liquid to which it was added"Definition 3: become less interesting or attractive - [verb of change]
Definition 4: make dull in appearance - [verb of contact]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- Age had dulled the surface
(dull is a kind of ...) cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
"The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city" "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- Age had dulled the surface
(dull is a kind of ...) cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
"The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city" "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"Definition 5: make dull or blunt - [verb of contact]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- Too much cutting dulls the knife's edge
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is a kind of ...) cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
"The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city" "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- Too much cutting dulls the knife's edge
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is a kind of ...) cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
"The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city" "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"Definition 6: deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping - [verb of perception]
Definition 7: make numb or insensitive - [verb of perception]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- The shock numbed her senses
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is a kind of ...) cause not to be sensitive
"The war desensitized many soldiers" "The photographic plate was desensitized"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- The shock numbed her senses
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is a kind of ...) cause not to be sensitive
"The war desensitized many soldiers" "The photographic plate was desensitized"Definition 8: not having a sharp edge or point - [adjective denoting all]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- the knife was too dull to be of any use
(dull is similar to ...) used of a knife or other blade; not sharp
"a blunt instrument" (dull is similar to ...) made dull or blunt
(dull is similar to ...) lacking a cutting edge
(dull is similar to ...) not sharpened
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- the knife was too dull to be of any use
(dull is similar to ...) used of a knife or other blade; not sharp
"a blunt instrument"(dull is similar to ...) made dull or blunt
(dull is similar to ...) lacking a cutting edge
(dull is similar to ...) not sharpened
Definition 9: emitting or reflecting very little light - [adjective denoting all]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- a dull glow
- dull silver badly in need of a polish
- a dull sky
(dull is similar to ...) not reflecting light; not glossy
"flat wall paint" "a photograph with a matte finish" (dull is similar to ...) lacking luster or shine
"staring with lackluster eyes" "lusterless hair" (dull is similar to ...) not brilliant or glaring
"the moon cast soft shadows" "soft pastel colors" "subdued lighting" (means also ...) not carefully reworked or perfected or made smooth by polishing
"dull unpolished shoes" (... are attributes of dull) the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
"its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- a dull glow
- dull silver badly in need of a polish
- a dull sky
(dull is similar to ...) not reflecting light; not glossy
"flat wall paint" "a photograph with a matte finish"(dull is similar to ...) lacking luster or shine
"staring with lackluster eyes" "lusterless hair"(dull is similar to ...) not brilliant or glaring
"the moon cast soft shadows" "soft pastel colors" "subdued lighting"(means also ...) not carefully reworked or perfected or made smooth by polishing
"dull unpolished shoes"(... are attributes of dull) the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
"its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun"Definition 10: lacking in liveliness or animation - [adjective denoting all]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- he was so dull at parties
- a dull political campaign
- a large dull impassive man
- dull days with nothing to do
- how dull and dreary the world is
- fell back into one of her dull moods
(dull is similar to ...) lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
"her drab personality" "life was drab compared with the more exciting life style overseas" "a series of dreary dinner parties" (dull is similar to ...) lacking brilliance or vitality
"a dull lackluster life" "a lusterless performance" (dull is similar to ...) tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
"a humdrum existence; all work and no play" "nothing is so monotonous as the sea" (dull is similar to ...) lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless
"a technically perfect but arid performance of the sonata" "a desiccate romance" "a prissy and emotionless creature...settles into a mold of desiccated snobbery" (dull is similar to ...) dull and slow-moving and stolid; like an ox
"showed a bovine apathy" (dull is similar to ...) lacking lightness or liveliness
"heavy humor" "a leaden conversation" (means also ...) lacking ardor or vigor or energy
"a spiritless reply to criticism" (means also ...) lacking in variety and interest
"a colorless and unimaginative person" "a colorless description of the parade" (means also ...) not animated or enlivened; dull
(... are attributes of dull) the quality of lacking interestingness
"the stories were of a dullness to bring a buffalo to its knees"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- he was so dull at parties
- a dull political campaign
- a large dull impassive man
- dull days with nothing to do
- how dull and dreary the world is
- fell back into one of her dull moods
(dull is similar to ...) lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
"her drab personality" "life was drab compared with the more exciting life style overseas" "a series of dreary dinner parties"(dull is similar to ...) lacking brilliance or vitality
"a dull lackluster life" "a lusterless performance"(dull is similar to ...) tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
"a humdrum existence; all work and no play" "nothing is so monotonous as the sea"(dull is similar to ...) lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless
"a technically perfect but arid performance of the sonata" "a desiccate romance" "a prissy and emotionless creature...settles into a mold of desiccated snobbery"(dull is similar to ...) dull and slow-moving and stolid; like an ox
"showed a bovine apathy"(dull is similar to ...) lacking lightness or liveliness
"heavy humor" "a leaden conversation"(means also ...) lacking ardor or vigor or energy
"a spiritless reply to criticism"(means also ...) lacking in variety and interest
"a colorless and unimaginative person" "a colorless description of the parade"(means also ...) not animated or enlivened; dull
(... are attributes of dull) the quality of lacking interestingness
"the stories were of a dullness to bring a buffalo to its knees"Definition 11: not keenly felt - [adjective denoting all]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- a dull throbbing
- dull pain
(dull is similar to ...) made or become less intense
"the deadened pangs of hunger"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- a dull throbbing
- dull pain
(dull is similar to ...) made or become less intense
"the deadened pangs of hunger"Definition 12: darkened with overcast - [adjective satellite denoting all]
Definition 13: (of business) not active or brisk - [adjective satellite denoting all]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- business is dull (or slow)
- a sluggish market
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is similar to ...) lacking activity; lying idle or unused
"an inactive mine" "inactive accounts" "inactive machinery" (dull belongs to category ...) the activity of providing goods and services involving financial and commercial and industrial aspects
"computers are now widely used in business"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- business is dull (or slow)
- a sluggish market
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is similar to ...) lacking activity; lying idle or unused
"an inactive mine" "inactive accounts" "inactive machinery"(dull belongs to category ...) the activity of providing goods and services involving financial and commercial and industrial aspects
"computers are now widely used in business"Definition 14: blunted in responsiveness or sensibility - [adjective satellite denoting all]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- a dull gaze
- so exhausted she was dull to what went on about her
(dull is similar to ...) deficient in human sensibility; not mentally or morally sensitive
"insensitive to the needs of the patients"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- a dull gaze
- so exhausted she was dull to what went on about her
(dull is similar to ...) deficient in human sensibility; not mentally or morally sensitive
"insensitive to the needs of the patients"Definition 15: being or made softer or less loud or clear - [adjective satellite denoting all]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- the dull boom of distant breaking waves
- muffled drums
- the muffled noises of the street
- muted trumpets
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is similar to ...) (of sound) relatively low in volume
"soft voices" "soft music"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- the dull boom of distant breaking waves
- muffled drums
- the muffled noises of the street
- muted trumpets
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is similar to ...) (of sound) relatively low in volume
"soft voices" "soft music"Definition 16: slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity - [adjective satellite denoting all]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- so dense he never understands anything I say to him
- never met anyone quite so dim
- although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick
- dumb officials make some really dumb decisions
- he was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse
- worked with the slow students
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is similar to ...) lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- so dense he never understands anything I say to him
- never met anyone quite so dim
- although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick
- dumb officials make some really dumb decisions
- he was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse
- worked with the slow students
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is similar to ...) lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
Definition 17: not clear and resonant; sounding as if striking with or against something relatively soft - [adjective satellite denoting all]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- the dull thud
- thudding bullets
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is similar to ...) not reverberant; lacking a tendency to reverberate
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- the dull thud
- thudding bullets
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is similar to ...) not reverberant; lacking a tendency to reverberate
Definition 18: (of color) very low in saturation; highly diluted - [adjective satellite denoting all]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- dull greens and blues
(dull is similar to ...) (of color) not chromatically pure; diluted
"an unsaturated red"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- dull greens and blues
(dull is similar to ...) (of color) not chromatically pure; diluted
"an unsaturated red"Definition 19: so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness - [adjective satellite denoting all]Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- a boring evening with uninteresting people
- the deadening effect of some routine tasks
- a dull play
- his competent but dull performance
- a ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention
- what an irksome task the writing of long letters is
- tedious days on the train
- the tiresome chirping of a cricket
- other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome
Synonyms for dull in the sense of this definition
(dull is similar to ...) arousing no interest or attention or curiosity or excitement
"a very uninteresting account of her trip"
Samples where dull or its synonyms are used according to this definition
- a boring evening with uninteresting people
- the deadening effect of some routine tasks
- a dull play
- his competent but dull performance
- a ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention
- what an irksome task the writing of long letters is
- tedious days on the train
- the tiresome chirping of a cricket
- other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome