dulled 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in dull
lacking a surface luster or gloss it might be best to paint the exposed pipes with a dulled enamel

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2
as in faded
lacking intensity of color the dulled colors and brownish tones are characteristic of this painter's works

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3
as in blunted
lacking sharpness of edge or point the dulled blade of a knife that had been stored in a drawer full of miscellaneous utensils

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dulled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dull
1
as in reduced
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling the aspirin dulled his headache and he was soon feeling better

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2
as in bleached
to make white or lighter by removing color the painting's once-vivid colors have been dulled by time

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dulled
Verb
But even the most stylish setup can be dulled by dingy concrete. — Martha Stewart, 21 June 2026 Others report their taste buds feeling dulled. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Apr. 2026 His helmet was not matte black, after all, but scratched up and dulled by dings and scuffings. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 18 May 2026 Its poster seems to capture the group’s anarchic spirit, proving that age hasn’t dulled their rebel yell. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 17 May 2026 The sparkle of the moment is somewhat dulled, though, when Mark turns to Margo and claims to have never called CPS on her. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 20 May 2026 The researchers positioned intuitive attunement as something that gets dulled by painful experience and reclaimed through healing. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 8 May 2026 Ampere’s research appeared to suggest that the influx of romance book adaptations and romance drama in general has dulled the appetite for reality shows about love. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 June 2026 Bitch, despite being created with Reed in tandem with My Face Hurts From Smiling, leans more pop and R&B with lyrics that may have been dulled down for palatability. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulled
  1. dull
  2. faded
  3. blunted
  4. reduced
  5. bleached
  6. matte
  7. pale
  8. blunt
Adjective
  • But all work and no play can make for a dull chief scientific officer.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 2 July 2026
  • The great speculators became talkative and communicative or dull, sullen, silent, and peevish.
    — Owen Lamont, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Eric_Lynxweiler | Courtesy of Latinos in Heritage Conservation The Silver Platter, with its faded crimson awning along a stretch in Los Angeles’ Westlake District, doesn’t look like much from the outside.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • The faded fabric, buttery-soft cotton, and contrast-trim neckline lend it a vintage vibe that won’t look out of place when paired with more contemporary pieces.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 28 June 2026
Definition of faded
Adjective
  • The results have been impressive enough from far away, but examined more closely as a blunted, external force, Big Brother has almost always been too literal in horror cinema.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
  • Orientation matters; garlic is planted vertically, with the root (blunted) end of the clove facing down, and the sprout (pointy) end facing up.
    — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Definition of blunted
Verb
  • Data indicates declining trust in managers and reduced interest in leadership among younger generations.
    — Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Each union agreed to slightly different terms for how long the leave programs are in place and by how much salaries were reduced.
    — William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of reduced
Verb
  • After seeing their brows bleached for the first time at our shoot, Megan and Daniela’s excited screams cause everyone’s heads to whip toward the glam room in a mixture of both fear and curiosity.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 25 June 2026
  • Ortega can be seen leaving her Wednesday-era long jet-black hair and bleached eyebrows behind.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 22 June 2026
Definition of bleached
Adjective
  • Its 85-inch QLED display features a highly matte anti-glare screen, so your art and movies look lifelike without annoying reflections.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The long-wearing formula sets to a semi-matte finish that resists oil and humidity, too.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 26 Nov. 2025
Definition of matte
Adjective
  • The room, its walls expensively craquelure'd to resemble fractured eggshells, its pale taffeta curtains billowing in the chill English breeze, is more Hollywood boudoir than office.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
  • But when taken together, our present divisions pale in comparison to the historical record.
    — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of pale
Adjective
  • In the photo, Hargitay leaned out of a car window, showing off a tousled blunt bob with golden ends, styled in a deep side part.
    — Meg Walters, InStyle, 5 July 2026
  • Gupta considers the blanket rent freeze a blunt tool that doesn't adequately address the affordability crisis.
    — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of blunt

Browse Nearby Words

dullards
dulled
dulling
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Cite this Entry

“Dulled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulled. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dulled for Spanish Speakers

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