Synonyms for dull
dʌldull

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dulladjective

   Antonyms:
   intelligent, bright

2. dulladjective

   Lacking the ability to cut easily; not sharp.

   Years of misuse have dulled the tools.

   Synonyms:
   lackluster, matte

   Antonyms:
   intelligent, bright

3. dulladjective

   Boring; not exciting or interesting.

   He drinks to dull the pain.

   Synonyms:
   lackluster, matte

   Antonyms:
   bright, intelligent

4. dulladjective

   Not shiny; having a matte finish or no particular luster.

   Choose a dull finish to hide fingerprints.

   Synonyms:
   matte, lackluster

   Antonyms:
   intelligent, bright

5. dulladjective

   Not bright or intelligent; stupid; slow of understanding.

   Synonyms:
   matte, lackluster

   Antonyms:
   intelligent, bright

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dull

   Slow signifies moving through a relatively short distance, or with a relatively small number of motions in a given time; slow also applies to that which is a relatively long while in beginning or accomplishing something; a watch or a clock is said to be slow when its indications are behind those of the standard time. Tardy is applied to that which is behind the proper or desired time, especially in doing a work or arriving at a place. Deliberate and dilatory are used of persons, tho the latter may be used also of things, as of a stream; a person is deliberate who takes a noticeably long time to consider and decide before acting or who acts or speaks as if he were deliberating at every point; a person is dilatory who lays aside, or puts off as long as possible, necessary or required action; both words may be applied either to undertaking or to doing. Gradual (Latin gradus, a step) signifies advancing by steps, and refers to slow but regular and sure progression. Slack refers to action that seems to indicate a lack of tension, as of muscle or of will, sluggish to action that seems as if reluctant to advance.

   See synonyms for NIMBLE.

   Synonyms:
   dawdling, delaying, deliberate, dilatory, drowsy, gradual, inactive, inert, lingering, moderate, procrastinating, slack, slow, sluggish, tardy

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dull

   Synonyms:
   stupid, stolid, doltish, insensible, callous, heavy, gloomy, dismal, cloudy, turbid, opaque, dowdy, sluggish, sad, tiresome, commonplace, dead

   Antonyms:
   sharp, clever, lively, animated, sensible, cheerful, exhilarating, brightness, transparent, brilliant, burnished

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:2.7 / 3 votes

1. dulladjective

   lacking in liveliness or animation

   "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"

   Synonyms:
   thudding, dim, wearisome, dense, muted, boring, dumb, leaden, tedious, slow, sluggish, obtuse, deadening, tiresome, muffled, ho-hum, irksome, softened

   Antonyms:
   sharp, pearlescent, sensitive, carnassial, lustrous, fang-like, razor-sharp, blazing, self-luminous, lucent, noctilucent, burbling, beadlike, scintillating, scintillant, beady, shiny, burbly, silvery, glaring, cutting, fulgent, bright as a new penny(p), coruscant, knifelike, glittering, lambent, iridescent, chisel-like, effusive, luminous, satiny, live, aglow(p), opalescent, keen, bright, beaming, lurid, aglitter(p), agleam, penetrative, glistening, stabbing, interesting, nitid, refulgent, radiant, bouncing, active, buttonlike, slick, beamy, glimmery, fulgid, lancinating, edged, frothy, intense, drill-like, sparkly, alive(p), glittery, twinkling(a), glistering, loud, shining, silvern, metal-cutting, glary, dazzling, bubbly, sheeny, saturated, sharp-toothed, gushing, zippy, salt, penetrating, silky, lively, silken, nacreous, sleek, smart, sharpened, brilliant, effervescent, buttony, breezy, peppy, piercing, glossy, opaline, incisive, file-like, blinding, lancinate, bouncy, warm, effulgent, shimmery, reverberant, spirited, silklike, glinting, silver, bubbling, acute, gleaming, pure, fulgurating, clear, dagger-like, ardent, sharpen

2. dulladjective

   emitting or reflecting very little light

   "a dull glow"; "dull silver badly in need of a polish"; "a dull sky"

   Synonyms:
   thudding, dim, wearisome, dense, muted, boring, dumb, leaden, tedious, slow, sluggish, obtuse, deadening, tiresome, muffled, ho-hum, irksome, softened

   Antonyms:
   gushing, luminous, drill-like, acute, bubbly, burbling, incisive, opalescent, breezy, silvery, silken, self-luminous, twinkling(a), interesting, sheeny, nitid, chisel-like, salt, glaring, bouncy, ardent, buttony, scintillant, razor-sharp, lustrous, glistening, beady, coruscant, piercing, brilliant, dagger-like, shimmery, shiny, sleek, radiant, nacreous, aglow(p), sharp-toothed, lurid, bright, shining, pure, refulgent, glittery, glistering, glinting, silver, sensitive, fulgent, silvern, gleaming, slick, silklike, bubbling, warm, sharpened, penetrative, loud, reverberant, beaming, alive(p), clear, keen, sharp, aglitter(p), peppy, buttonlike, zippy, lively, effulgent, noctilucent, lambent, knifelike, bright as a new penny(p), beadlike, glossy, scintillating, lancinate, satiny, blazing, effusive, glary, stabbing, intense, glimmery, active, carnassial, lucent, edged, sparkly, file-like, opaline, penetrating, smart, glittering, live, iridescent, metal-cutting, fulgurating, frothy, pearlescent, saturated, fulgid, silky, spirited, fang-like, agleam, effervescent, bouncing, cutting, lancinating, burbly, blinding, beamy, dazzling, sharpen

3. dull, muffled, muted, softenedadjective

   being or made softer or less loud or clear

   "the dull boom of distant breaking waves"; "muffled drums"; "the muffled noises of the street"; "muted trumpets"

   Synonyms:
   thudding, dim, wearisome, quiet, dense, muted, boring, dumb, leaden, tedious, slow, sluggish, obtuse, deadening, subdued, tiresome, muffled, ho-hum, irksome, hushed, softened

   Antonyms:
   fulgent, slick, agleam, beadlike, loud, blinding, chisel-like, effusive, nacreous, silklike, keen, live, lucent, glossy, sharpened, blazing, ardent, alive(p), shining, beaming, glinting, pearlescent, beamy, buttonlike, luminous, lambent, knifelike, dazzling, zippy, sparkly, lively, sheeny, sensitive, aglow(p), effervescent, bright, breezy, fulgurating, stabbing, bouncing, sharp, lurid, glary, burbling, coruscant, salt, fang-like, twinkling(a), penetrating, beady, buttony, silken, iridescent, active, noctilucent, bright as a new penny(p), peppy, metal-cutting, frothy, sleek, radiant, bouncy, silvern, scintillating, scintillant, lancinate, burbly, glittery, saturated, edged, drill-like, carnassial, self-luminous, cutting, brilliant, opaline, penetrative, effulgent, gleaming, reverberant, silver, file-like, satiny, bubbly, interesting, dagger-like, glimmery, silky, acute, piercing, warm, shiny, smart, refulgent, spirited, pure, sharp-toothed, glistening, gushing, clear, silvery, glistering, nitid, glittering, fulgid, incisive, lustrous, shimmery, lancinating, glaring, razor-sharp, aglitter(p), opalescent, intense, bubbling, sharpen

4. boring, deadening, dull, ho-hum, irksome, slow, tedious, tiresome, wearisomeadjective

   so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

   "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"- Edmund Burke; "tedious days on the train"; "the tiresome chirping of a cricket"- Mark Twain; "other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome"

   Synonyms:
   dim, windy, wearisome, wordy, dense, muted, boring, verbose, dumb, leaden, tedious, slow, sluggish, obtuse, deadening, tiresome, muffled, ho-hum, long-winded, irksome, thudding, softened

   Antonyms:
   glistering, aglitter(p), self-luminous, buttony, silvery, noctilucent, lucent, warm, blinding, active, aglow(p), dagger-like, salt, bubbling, lancinate, burbling, live, intense, alive(p), sharp, knifelike, piercing, glinting, effervescent, glimmery, glaring, agleam, carnassial, penetrating, silklike, glistening, glittery, silky, stabbing, lively, lurid, coruscant, lambent, cutting, bright as a new penny(p), luminous, beamy, file-like, fang-like, reverberant, ardent, scintillant, silver, keen, glary, pearlescent, slick, twinkling(a), clear, fulgid, interesting, smart, chisel-like, bright, drill-like, lancinating, pure, bouncy, scintillating, razor-sharp, beadlike, burbly, nacreous, sharp-toothed, sleek, incisive, nitid, sensitive, fulgent, saturated, gleaming, bubbly, zippy, loud, blazing, effusive, refulgent, peppy, sharpened, sheeny, shiny, penetrative, lustrous, fulgurating, acute, gushing, satiny, silvern, opalescent, sparkly, frothy, beady, iridescent, breezy, effulgent, buttonlike, metal-cutting, shining, beaming, glossy, brilliant, opaline, bouncing, spirited, radiant, shimmery, glittering, edged, dazzling, silken, sharpen

5. dulladjective

   (of color) very low in saturation; highly diluted

   "dull greens and blues"

   Synonyms:
   thudding, dim, wearisome, dense, muted, boring, dumb, leaden, tedious, slow, sluggish, obtuse, deadening, tiresome, muffled, ho-hum, irksome, softened

   Antonyms:
   silky, salt, beadlike, lancinate, glary, lurid, nacreous, glinting, effusive, dagger-like, brilliant, shiny, glittery, drill-like, glimmery, pure, metal-cutting, smart, frothy, slick, active, lancinating, reverberant, breezy, lucent, sharpened, gushing, refulgent, keen, twinkling(a), bouncing, aglow(p), piercing, knifelike, shimmery, bouncy, glossy, sparkly, glittering, intense, nitid, edged, gleaming, penetrative, bright, lambent, fulgurating, opalescent, spirited, sharp, file-like, interesting, glaring, alive(p), silver, aglitter(p), shining, lustrous, dazzling, sharp-toothed, acute, effervescent, buttony, sensitive, fulgid, clear, blazing, bubbly, peppy, razor-sharp, cutting, stabbing, glistening, beaming, live, scintillating, effulgent, buttonlike, luminous, burbly, noctilucent, self-luminous, lively, burbling, pearlescent, iridescent, scintillant, beady, incisive, coruscant, zippy, fulgent, satiny, glistering, beamy, blinding, penetrating, warm, bubbling, saturated, radiant, bright as a new penny(p), silvery, sheeny, fang-like, carnassial, loud, sleek, ardent, silvern, chisel-like, silken, agleam, silklike, opaline, sharpen

6. dulladjective

   not keenly felt

   "a dull throbbing"; "dull pain"

   Synonyms:
   thudding, dim, wearisome, dense, muted, boring, dumb, leaden, tedious, slow, sluggish, obtuse, deadening, tiresome, muffled, ho-hum, irksome, softened

   Antonyms:
   keen, saturated, loud, brilliant, frothy, silvern, alive(p), sensitive, peppy, aglitter(p), warm, noctilucent, metal-cutting, sharp-toothed, glaring, salt, blinding, sharpened, scintillating, bright as a new penny(p), pearlescent, bright, interesting, carnassial, fulgurating, fang-like, sleek, burbly, refulgent, gleaming, chisel-like, nacreous, gushing, penetrating, sharp, incisive, dagger-like, radiant, intense, cutting, sparkly, iridescent, glittering, pure, silklike, bubbling, lancinating, opaline, aglow(p), live, agleam, penetrative, knifelike, lambent, bubbly, file-like, beaming, glittery, bouncing, beady, bouncy, lucent, effulgent, burbling, glary, razor-sharp, active, clear, fulgent, piercing, buttonlike, effervescent, glistening, buttony, smart, edged, silky, beadlike, lancinate, glossy, silken, dazzling, shiny, silver, silvery, nitid, fulgid, beamy, acute, zippy, coruscant, slick, glimmery, scintillant, lively, effusive, spirited, luminous, shining, lurid, ardent, self-luminous, lustrous, satiny, sheeny, reverberant, stabbing, blazing, opalescent, breezy, twinkling(a), shimmery, glistering, drill-like, glinting, sharpen

7. dense, dim, dull, dumb, obtuse, slowadjective

   slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity

   "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"- Thackeray; "dumb officials make some really dumb decisions"; "he was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse"; "worked with the slow students"

   Synonyms:
   vague, ho-hum, muted, sluggish, subdued, deadening, faint, mute, slow, thudding, boring, dumb, dense, irksome, black, silent, wispy, heavy, dim, purblind, muffled, tedious, impenetrable, dimmed, speechless, shadowy, tiresome, softened, bleak, thick, wearisome, obtuse, leaden

   Antonyms:
   pearlescent, blinding, glistering, lancinate, slick, metal-cutting, glinting, fang-like, ardent, bubbly, acute, penetrating, glary, keen, buttonlike, chisel-like, glistening, fulgid, sensitive, satiny, silvery, spirited, salt, fulgent, nacreous, glaring, knifelike, silver, opalescent, carnassial, effusive, saturated, silken, smart, bouncing, burbling, loud, beady, shimmery, silvern, reverberant, breezy, warm, incisive, radiant, file-like, luminous, piercing, bubbling, scintillating, glossy, peppy, glittery, penetrative, drill-like, brilliant, gushing, sharp, noctilucent, dazzling, stabbing, intense, agleam, buttony, nitid, sharp-toothed, beadlike, aglow(p), sleek, frothy, self-luminous, glittering, bright, silky, active, aglitter(p), edged, sheeny, fulgurating, iridescent, cutting, alive(p), scintillant, razor-sharp, effervescent, glimmery, shining, opaline, twinkling(a), lustrous, pure, bright as a new penny(p), beamy, lancinating, lucent, dagger-like, beaming, effulgent, coruscant, lurid, interesting, zippy, clear, lively, gleaming, bouncy, silklike, blazing, lambent, refulgent, live, sparkly, sharpened, burbly, shiny, sharpen

8. dull, slow, sluggishadjective

   (of business) not active or brisk

   "business is dull (or slow)"; "a sluggish market"

   Synonyms:
   thudding, dim, wearisome, torpid, dense, muted, boring, dumb, leaden, tedious, slow, sluggish, obtuse, deadening, soggy, sulky, tiresome, muffled, ho-hum, irksome, inert, softened

   Antonyms:
   shining, blazing, lancinating, effusive, dagger-like, fulgid, penetrative, beady, opalescent, sleek, lancinate, effulgent, aglitter(p), sparkly, lucent, warm, silken, interesting, breezy, shimmery, file-like, lurid, clear, iridescent, sensitive, knifelike, sharp, stabbing, opaline, reverberant, blinding, pearlescent, sharpened, gleaming, silky, alive(p), ardent, zippy, shiny, silver, glinting, salt, glittery, fang-like, loud, sharp-toothed, lustrous, keen, glossy, coruscant, fulgent, bubbly, bright as a new penny(p), bouncing, glistering, beadlike, effervescent, buttony, twinkling(a), spirited, beaming, silklike, burbly, silvery, frothy, bubbling, glaring, carnassial, chisel-like, bouncy, sheeny, bright, penetrating, burbling, self-luminous, acute, dazzling, lively, cutting, glary, aglow(p), peppy, nacreous, pure, piercing, active, incisive, edged, noctilucent, glimmery, metal-cutting, lambent, buttonlike, scintillating, silvern, brilliant, smart, refulgent, beamy, glittering, saturated, fulgurating, agleam, nitid, satiny, drill-like, slick, gushing, scintillant, glistening, radiant, razor-sharp, intense, live, luminous, sharpen

9. dulladjective

   not having a sharp edge or point

   "the knife was too dull to be of any use"

   Synonyms:
   thudding, dim, wearisome, dense, muted, boring, dumb, leaden, tedious, slow, sluggish, obtuse, deadening, tiresome, muffled, ho-hum, irksome, softened

   Antonyms:
   pure, glistening, twinkling(a), warm, lucent, blazing, lancinating, burbling, bright as a new penny(p), cutting, refulgent, aglow(p), silken, nacreous, shining, saturated, silvern, glary, agleam, sparkly, glittery, satiny, spirited, dagger-like, incisive, lancinate, clear, glistering, lively, effulgent, opaline, keen, knifelike, nitid, sharp, silvery, silver, scintillating, beamy, opalescent, breezy, sheeny, gushing, silklike, beaming, coruscant, lambent, beadlike, noctilucent, glimmery, sleek, dazzling, penetrating, chisel-like, metal-cutting, luminous, carnassial, active, brilliant, fulgurating, bouncy, buttonlike, fulgid, fulgent, salt, edged, piercing, bouncing, intense, stabbing, loud, acute, blinding, bubbly, smart, lustrous, bright, scintillant, glaring, effervescent, buttony, lurid, shimmery, aglitter(p), gleaming, glinting, beady, ardent, burbly, interesting, bubbling, alive(p), sharp-toothed, sharpened, file-like, effusive, glossy, iridescent, frothy, self-luminous, radiant, peppy, silky, penetrative, slick, reverberant, pearlescent, drill-like, sensitive, glittering, zippy, live, razor-sharp, shiny, fang-like, sharpen

10. dulladjective

    blunted in responsiveness or sensibility

    "a dull gaze"; "so exhausted she was dull to what went on about her"- Willa Cather

    Synonyms:
    thudding, dim, wearisome, dense, muted, boring, dumb, leaden, tedious, slow, sluggish, obtuse, deadening, tiresome, muffled, ho-hum, irksome, softened

    Antonyms:
    brilliant, glossy, blinding, lustrous, glaring, burbling, file-like, clear, fulgid, blazing, beady, reverberant, sparkly, penetrative, shining, gushing, alive(p), glittery, effervescent, silklike, interesting, lurid, lambent, acute, slick, lively, glimmery, sleek, bouncy, razor-sharp, spirited, glistening, smart, buttony, glinting, twinkling(a), stabbing, intense, keen, carnassial, opalescent, bubbling, cutting, silver, luminous, sharp, lancinate, sharp-toothed, sheeny, nitid, aglow(p), incisive, bubbly, agleam, piercing, nacreous, silvern, sensitive, opaline, iridescent, beadlike, shiny, breezy, bright as a new penny(p), gleaming, lucent, dazzling, saturated, beamy, satiny, active, sharpened, lancinating, pearlescent, fulgent, silvery, silken, frothy, loud, beaming, scintillating, edged, fang-like, chisel-like, bright, zippy, drill-like, shimmery, scintillant, warm, buttonlike, glistering, fulgurating, effusive, peppy, bouncing, live, ardent, coruscant, glary, metal-cutting, radiant, refulgent, knifelike, aglitter(p), noctilucent, silky, penetrating, glittering, dagger-like, effulgent, burbly, self-luminous, pure, salt, sharpen

11. dull, thuddingadjective

    not clear and resonant; sounding as if striking with or against something relatively soft

    "the dull thud"; "thudding bullets"

    Synonyms:
    thudding, dim, wearisome, dense, muted, boring, dumb, leaden, tedious, slow, sluggish, obtuse, deadening, tiresome, muffled, ho-hum, irksome, softened

    Antonyms:
    burbly, slick, noctilucent, warm, breezy, reverberant, glimmery, silklike, sharp, twinkling(a), interesting, coruscant, bubbling, acute, lustrous, gushing, brilliant, buttonlike, sparkly, bubbly, sleek, alive(p), knifelike, shiny, zippy, beaming, luminous, silken, dagger-like, lancinate, glittery, burbling, effulgent, beady, glinting, glistening, sheeny, beadlike, aglitter(p), blazing, silvern, silver, sharp-toothed, smart, radiant, pearlescent, bouncing, scintillating, lively, penetrating, blinding, opaline, lambent, agleam, frothy, aglow(p), chisel-like, fulgent, scintillant, live, satiny, file-like, metal-cutting, bright as a new penny(p), pure, bouncy, razor-sharp, keen, stabbing, drill-like, intense, fang-like, beamy, gleaming, loud, refulgent, lucent, silky, self-luminous, lancinating, piercing, lurid, opalescent, incisive, edged, clear, fulgid, sensitive, effusive, saturated, cutting, spirited, ardent, effervescent, iridescent, active, shining, carnassial, peppy, fulgurating, bright, glistering, glossy, shimmery, glaring, dazzling, silvery, sharpened, nitid, buttony, glittering, penetrative, salt, glary, nacreous, sharpen

12. dull, leadenverb

    darkened with overcast

    "a dark day"; "a dull sky"; "the sky was leaden and thick"

    Synonyms:
    heavy, thudding, dim, wearisome, plodding, dense, muted, boring, dumb, leaden, tedious, slow, sluggish, obtuse, deadening, tiresome, muffled, ho-hum, irksome, weighted, softened

    Antonyms:
    sparkly, razor-sharp, noctilucent, bouncing, glossy, bubbly, pearlescent, piercing, sensitive, glistering, glaring, breezy, glittery, acute, drill-like, penetrative, bubbling, frothy, carnassial, interesting, edged, blazing, smart, salt, aglow(p), sleek, intense, metal-cutting, sharp-toothed, burbly, sharp, aglitter(p), silklike, effulgent, opaline, glary, file-like, bright as a new penny(p), coruscant, lucent, gleaming, luminous, keen, bright, lancinating, silken, loud, lustrous, silvern, ardent, shimmery, lively, beamy, incisive, fulgent, buttonlike, clear, sharpened, slick, spirited, zippy, reverberant, silver, nacreous, buttony, gushing, beadlike, scintillating, effusive, refulgent, effervescent, glinting, lurid, opalescent, brilliant, beady, radiant, live, silky, silvery, sheeny, beaming, agleam, stabbing, glimmery, active, fulgurating, knifelike, peppy, chisel-like, lancinate, dazzling, nitid, fulgid, scintillant, twinkling(a), iridescent, dagger-like, self-luminous, fang-like, penetrating, glistening, satiny, cutting, lambent, shining, blinding, saturated, bouncy, pure, shiny, alive(p), warm, burbling, glittering, sharpen

13. dullverb

    make dull in appearance

    "Age had dulled the surface"

    Synonyms:
    benumb, blunt, tone down, mute, numb, pall, damp, muffle, dampen

    Antonyms:
    salt, buttonlike, nacreous, beaming, keen, interesting, silklike, sleek, beadlike, sharp-toothed, scintillating, coruscant, pure, alive(p), refulgent, file-like, bubbly, buttony, fulgent, agleam, silvery, intense, blazing, cutting, beamy, lively, lustrous, lancinate, ardent, gushing, frothy, pearlescent, razor-sharp, satiny, bouncy, peppy, sparkly, slick, burbling, penetrating, smart, drill-like, sharpened, luminous, chisel-like, glary, sensitive, stabbing, bouncing, burbly, brilliant, glossy, spirited, zippy, sharp, gleaming, knifelike, fang-like, glistening, radiant, glaring, shining, opalescent, breezy, effervescent, silken, shiny, dazzling, effusive, noctilucent, aglow(p), piercing, nitid, fulgurating, loud, blinding, twinkling(a), lurid, lucent, acute, silky, effulgent, bright, warm, active, fulgid, glittering, glittery, lancinating, penetrative, glistering, dagger-like, live, sheeny, reverberant, carnassial, scintillant, beady, bubbling, silver, opaline, shimmery, saturated, bright as a new penny(p), glinting, clear, incisive, silvern, lambent, glimmery, self-luminous, edged, metal-cutting, iridescent, aglitter(p), sharpen

14. dullverb

    become dull or lusterless in appearance; lose shine or brightness

    "the varnished table top dulled with time"

    Synonyms:
    benumb, blunt, tone down, mute, numb, pall, damp, muffle, dampen

    Antonyms:
    effervescent, beamy, glaring, dazzling, warm, piercing, nitid, nacreous, brilliant, bubbling, penetrative, aglow(p), bubbly, scintillant, reverberant, glistering, razor-sharp, fulgent, zippy, opalescent, sparkly, interesting, fulgid, glossy, penetrating, slick, salt, knifelike, twinkling(a), dagger-like, burbling, acute, ardent, sheeny, spirited, live, sharp, pearlescent, drill-like, gleaming, glimmery, saturated, buttony, sensitive, lucent, lively, peppy, sharp-toothed, chisel-like, noctilucent, glittering, silklike, self-luminous, lancinating, keen, shimmery, silvern, scintillating, agleam, carnassial, file-like, bright as a new penny(p), lancinate, shining, glinting, clear, edged, gushing, opaline, pure, luminous, iridescent, sleek, blazing, beadlike, silvery, beaming, refulgent, lurid, active, loud, sharpened, silken, metal-cutting, glittery, alive(p), effusive, bouncing, glary, bright, effulgent, silver, shiny, beady, lustrous, blinding, satiny, silky, glistening, bouncy, burbly, coruscant, smart, fang-like, frothy, lambent, radiant, stabbing, cutting, breezy, buttonlike, incisive, fulgurating, intense, aglitter(p), sharpen

15. muffle, mute, dull, damp, dampen, tone downverb

    deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping

    Synonyms:
    muffle, wash, stifle, mute, pall, numb, moderate, moisten, weaken, benumb, repress, break, soften, tone down, smother, blunt, deaden, damp, dampen, tame, strangle

    Antonyms:
    sharp-toothed, scintillating, breezy, knifelike, slick, sparkly, penetrative, scintillant, beaming, lucent, piercing, intense, silvery, dagger-like, interesting, clear, effulgent, refulgent, self-luminous, keen, glossy, sharpened, silver, fang-like, glaring, pure, buttonlike, lambent, penetrating, active, burbly, file-like, frothy, silky, buttony, lively, peppy, cutting, silklike, beady, shiny, sensitive, luminous, shining, radiant, alive(p), sheeny, brilliant, bouncy, glistening, razor-sharp, smart, lustrous, fulgid, chisel-like, lancinate, zippy, lancinating, gleaming, edged, saturated, spirited, carnassial, reverberant, dazzling, warm, stabbing, glistering, salt, acute, satiny, aglitter(p), iridescent, glittering, metal-cutting, noctilucent, loud, shimmery, beamy, nitid, fulgurating, silken, pearlescent, beadlike, glary, twinkling(a), fulgent, aglow(p), bubbling, glittery, bright, ardent, nacreous, opaline, opalescent, effervescent, bubbly, silvern, bouncing, sleek, glinting, sharp, burbling, coruscant, lurid, effusive, glimmery, gushing, bright as a new penny(p), drill-like, incisive, blazing, agleam, blinding, live, sharpen

16. numb, benumb, blunt, dullverb

    make numb or insensitive

    "The shock numbed her senses"

    Synonyms:
    benumb, tone down, mute, deaden, numb, blunt, pall, damp, muffle, dampen

    Antonyms:
    piercing, pearlescent, glinting, lancinating, gleaming, zippy, nitid, warm, lively, penetrating, beaming, penetrative, stabbing, knifelike, agleam, twinkling(a), glittery, lurid, silken, blinding, opaline, bubbly, silky, blazing, sleek, lancinate, buttonlike, glimmery, radiant, glary, incisive, lucent, saturated, burbly, scintillating, bouncy, brilliant, opalescent, satiny, noctilucent, pure, edged, sheeny, luminous, chisel-like, bright as a new penny(p), smart, sparkly, acute, keen, shiny, glossy, sharp, glittering, lustrous, dagger-like, fang-like, bouncing, interesting, aglitter(p), slick, spirited, glistening, breezy, bright, carnassial, coruscant, metal-cutting, intense, bubbling, aglow(p), shining, live, silvern, cutting, scintillant, fulgid, buttony, loud, sensitive, sharp-toothed, effusive, self-luminous, lambent, fulgent, effervescent, silver, peppy, nacreous, shimmery, iridescent, burbling, active, glistering, file-like, razor-sharp, dazzling, glaring, gushing, silvery, reverberant, frothy, silklike, beadlike, sharpened, drill-like, alive(p), effulgent, beady, ardent, salt, clear, fulgurating, refulgent, beamy, sharpen

17. dull, bluntverb

    make dull or blunt

    "Too much cutting dulls the knife's edge"

    Synonyms:
    benumb, blunt, tone down, mute, deaden, numb, pall, damp, muffle, dampen

    Antonyms:
    saturated, effulgent, silky, blinding, glittering, silken, alive(p), scintillant, frothy, buttonlike, refulgent, file-like, ardent, dagger-like, aglow(p), sheeny, nacreous, dazzling, piercing, sleek, knifelike, sparkly, metal-cutting, radiant, smart, warm, chisel-like, spirited, sharpened, lambent, stabbing, twinkling(a), acute, incisive, sharp-toothed, lancinating, blazing, clear, cutting, agleam, glistening, silvery, bubbly, bubbling, fulgent, beamy, beady, opalescent, penetrative, lucent, brilliant, effervescent, satiny, silvern, sharp, interesting, beadlike, burbly, sensitive, active, glossy, iridescent, gleaming, fulgid, shimmery, coruscant, glimmery, glary, scintillating, razor-sharp, drill-like, glinting, lurid, glittery, penetrating, zippy, intense, edged, noctilucent, bright as a new penny(p), lively, bright, effusive, lancinate, loud, buttony, reverberant, gushing, fulgurating, nitid, silver, beaming, fang-like, pearlescent, pure, carnassial, luminous, aglitter(p), lustrous, keen, burbling, glaring, glistering, silklike, bouncy, bouncing, shining, opaline, shiny, live, slick, self-luminous, breezy, peppy, salt, sharpen

18. pall, dullverb

    become less interesting or attractive

    Synonyms:
    weary, muffle, blunt, mute, pall, numb, fatigue, scare, scare off, benumb, die, tire, frighten away, cloy, become flat, dampen, damp, scare away, tone down, daunt, frighten off, dash, jade

    Antonyms:
    buttonlike, dazzling, blazing, shimmery, beady, frothy, glaring, penetrative, lancinate, penetrating, fang-like, blinding, sensitive, incisive, brilliant, lurid, smart, sleek, salt, glary, lancinating, saturated, twinkling(a), live, clear, bright, bouncing, lambent, silken, nitid, pure, fulgent, lustrous, opalescent, bubbly, file-like, zippy, sharp-toothed, fulgurating, lucent, coruscant, luminous, intense, spirited, keen, sheeny, burbling, dagger-like, interesting, effervescent, silvery, iridescent, silver, agleam, scintillating, burbly, alive(p), shiny, glittery, razor-sharp, loud, aglitter(p), effusive, silky, glistening, shining, beamy, reverberant, edged, refulgent, beaming, pearlescent, knifelike, gleaming, beadlike, chisel-like, gushing, effulgent, silklike, drill-like, glossy, sharp, ardent, noctilucent, carnassial, lively, glinting, active, aglow(p), sharpened, buttony, slick, glittering, sparkly, scintillant, bouncy, glistering, metal-cutting, satiny, bubbling, warm, fulgid, nacreous, peppy, cutting, radiant, self-luminous, opaline, stabbing, acute, breezy, bright as a new penny(p), silvern, piercing, glimmery, sharpen

19. dullverb

    make less lively or vigorous

    "Middle age dulled her appetite for travel"

    Synonyms:
    benumb, blunt, tone down, mute, numb, pall, damp, muffle, dampen

    Antonyms:
    scintillating, silky, silvern, effusive, glittering, aglow(p), piercing, lambent, slick, clear, bright as a new penny(p), nacreous, opaline, penetrative, peppy, sharp, glary, fulgent, knifelike, shining, acute, silvery, lancinate, buttonlike, active, salt, glistering, silver, aglitter(p), glimmery, blinding, penetrating, glittery, lustrous, coruscant, alive(p), beamy, bouncing, spirited, sensitive, fulgid, beaming, effulgent, shimmery, gushing, blazing, burbly, cutting, warm, fulgurating, bouncy, silken, bubbly, sheeny, opalescent, satiny, sleek, luminous, incisive, glinting, sharp-toothed, bubbling, pearlescent, bright, twinkling(a), beadlike, ardent, keen, file-like, dazzling, beady, sparkly, scintillant, loud, shiny, lucent, intense, metal-cutting, lurid, sharpened, interesting, iridescent, razor-sharp, silklike, frothy, breezy, agleam, self-luminous, glossy, reverberant, chisel-like, gleaming, zippy, carnassial, radiant, noctilucent, lively, nitid, fang-like, burbling, dagger-like, buttony, live, smart, glaring, effervescent, drill-like, lancinating, stabbing, refulgent, pure, edged, brilliant, saturated, glistening, sharpen

Matched Categories

1. • Business
   • Change
   • Desensitize
   • Soften
   • Weaken

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. desaturated

   Submitted by anonymous on January 12, 2020  

2. non-luminous

   the dull watch did not glisten as we walked through the cave.

   Submitted by rinat on August 20, 2019  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dulladjective

   Synonyms:
   stupid, stolid, doltish, blockish, brutish, unintelligent, unintellectual, shallow, blunt-witted

2. dulladjective

   Synonyms:
   apathetic, insensible, unimpassioned, passionless, dead, callous

3. dulladjective

   Synonyms:
   inert, inactive, lifeless, inanimate, heavy, sluggish, slow, torpid

4. dulladjective

   Synonyms:
   blunt, obtuse, not sharp

5. dulladjective

   Synonyms:
   gloomy, sad, dismal, cheerless

6. dulladjective

   Synonyms:
   dim, obscure, not bright, not vivid

7. dulladjective

   Synonyms:
   tedious, wearisome, tiresome, uninteresting

8. dullverb

   Synonyms:
   blunt, make blunt

9. dullverb

   Synonyms:
   stupefy, benumb, deaden, paralyze, obtund, hebetate, make or render insensible, render callous, make obtuse

10. dullverb

    Synonyms:
    depress, dishearten, discourage, dispirit, deject, make melancholy, make sad or dejected

11. dullverb

    Synonyms:
    quiet, allay, moderate, assuage, mitigate, alleviate, soften

12. dullverb

    Synonyms:
    sully, tarnish

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dulladjective

   Synonyms:
   unintelligent, obtuse, stolid, loggerheaded, inapt, doltish, beetle-headed, blockish, sluggish, apathetic, unfeeling, insensate, callous, blunt, obtuse, dulled, pointless, dim, faint, tedious, uninteresting, prosaic, stupid, wearisome, jejune, depressing, lifeless, torpid, slow, inactive, matte, lusterless, lackluster

2. dullverb

   Synonyms:
   blunt, rebate, benumb, obtund, stupefy, deaden, hebetate, sully, tarnish, obscure, dim, bedim, depress, sadden, dishearten, assuage, alleviate, moderate, allay

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "dull":

   boring, monotonic, monotonous, tedious, drab, uninspiring, annoying, razor, lacklustre, dreary, mat, blunt, colourless, tiresome

How to pronounce dull?

How to say dull in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use dull in a sentence?

1. John Steinbeck:

   A book is like a man -- clever and dull, brave and cowardly, beautiful and ugly. For every flowering thought there will be a page like a wet and mangy mongrel, and for every looping flight a tap on the wing and a reminder that wax cannot hold the feathers firm too near the sun.

2. Patricia Heaton:

   I think it’s something about your children leaving the house and the things that used to anchor you are no longer there, you’re a little bit at sea, and so you reach for the bottle to dull the uncertainty. I sensed that a bit with myself. … I’ve stopped [drinking], and my life has improved significantly. My kids are in their mid-20s and I’ll probably be in my 70s by the time I have grandchildren. I want to be healthy for them.

3. Jeff Ludwin:

   If you're looking at a whole fish, the gills should be dark red, not dull brown, and the eyes should be clear and not cloudy.

4. Mark Gooley:

   After several minutes of utterly dull conversation I began to think of her not as a woman but as a human, then not as a human but as an animal, then not as an animal but as a source of high-grade protein.

5. Alfred Hitchcock:

   Drama is life with the dull parts cut out of it.