1
: tedious, uninteresting
dull lectures
2
: lacking sharpness of edge or point
a dull knife
3
a
: not resonant or ringing
a dull booming sound
b
: lacking in force, intensity, or sharpness
a dull ache
4
: lacking brilliance or luster
a dull finish
5
: cloudy
dull weather
6
of a color
: low in saturation (see saturation sense 4a) and low in lightness
a dull green
7
: mentally slow : stupid
8
a
: slow in perception or sensibility : insensible
somewhat dull of hearing
dull to what went on about her—
Willa Cather
Willa Cather
b
: lacking zest (see zest sense 2) or vivacity : listless
a dull performance
9
: slow in action : sluggish
dull markets
dulled; dulling; dulls
: to make dull
dull a knife's edge
: to become dull
The blade dulled with use.
Examples of dull in a Sentence
Adjective
the dull roar of the crowd
the dull knife just bounced off the skin of the tomato without cutting it
Verb
Fog dulled the morning sunlight.
Special earplugs dulled the sound of the chain saw.
His hair dulled as he aged.
The dog's eyes dulled as he got sick.
She takes medicine to dull the pain.
Fear dulled his need for adventure.
The knife was dulled from use.
The blade should be replaced as soon as it dulls.
Recent Examples on the Web
Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
No race including Bianco or Jenner should ever be dull, though, and this one likely won’t be either.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2025
Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2025
More than a century later, fine particles of pollution still clung to its feathers, dulling what once was a scarlet red breast to a mottled gray.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Miracle leave-in product: on sale for $28 (30% off)
Original price: $40
(Ulta)
Dealing with dull or damaged hair?
—Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
No race including Bianco or Jenner should ever be dull, though, and this one likely won’t be either.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
That dulled the outcome for A’s fans but not all of the energy for fans soaking in the historic moment.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2025
More than a century later, fine particles of pollution still clung to its feathers, dulling what once was a scarlet red breast to a mottled gray.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dull
Cite this Entry
“Dull.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dull. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dull
1 of 2 adjective1
: mentally slow : stupid
2
: listless
3
: slow in action : sluggish
4
: lacking sharpness of edge or point
5
: lacking brilliance or luster
6
: not ringing, sharp, or intense
a dull roar
7
8
: tedious, uninteresting
a dull lecture
9
: slightly grayish
a dull blue
dull
2 of 2 verb
: to make or become dull
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