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
The primary effects generally wear off in less than an hour, but a person’s senses may remain dulled and their judgment and coordination impaired for several hours afterward. — Christopher P. Holstege, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026 Bikes like these would make a lot of sense from a sales perspective, considering the appeal of these models has never dulled in the motorcycle community. — New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026 That was half her life ago, but the emotional charge of that day has never dulled. — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026 None of this ever accumulates much weight, however, since the conflicts are all dulled by the one-note absurdity of the farcical plotting. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026 Then there is smell, dulled by our reliance on artificial fragrance; and sound, overwhelmed by notification pings. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026 The flavor of the wine may be dulled, or an off or sour taste could develop. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2026 The sparkle in her eyes had dulled and her smile seemed forced. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026 Decades of scrolling have dulled our senses somewhat; this is inevitable. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulled
  1. dull
  2. faded
  3. blunted
  4. reduced
  5. bleached
  6. matte
  7. pale
  8. blunt
Adjective
  • Like scoops of an ocean unmarred by humans, quarts of seaweed soup sit next to other flavors like spicy beef and pine nut and soybean, a shade of creamy beige so calming, one glance is enough to effectively absolve the color of its dull reputation.
    — Vanessa Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • If your skin's looking a little dull or feeling rough, the best alpha hydroxy acid products might be exactly what your routine is missing.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Investigators described him as a white male in his late 50s, with a scruffy, gray beard who was wearing a faded blue baseball cap.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The landscape flowed in ridges and mountains of faded yellow and whisper pink, where welwitschia–large, low-lying plants that live to be hundreds of years old–sprawled like relics from a Dune film set.
    — Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 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
  • The combination also reduced the hazard of cancer spreading to distant sites or death by 38%.
    — Mike McRae October 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In Spain, modern farming methods have reduced the practice of transhumance to a small group of farmers that keep the tradition alive not just for its environmental benefits but also for its cultural value.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduced
Verb
  • Eco effort While over 80% of the reefs around the resort were bleached following the dramatic temperature rises of El Nino in 2016, the resort is throwing everything at its coral nursery and the green shoots are showing.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The large works seem to be on the verge of becoming ghostly, bleached by the same relentless Florida sunlight that makes Miami Beach so visually seductive.
    — Erin Parish, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of bleached
Adjective
  • The finish is a semi-matte—smooth, satin, and shine-free—that looks looks like velvet on the lips.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of matte
Adjective
  • Its exterior styling is modern and Scandinavian-like, with a steel base, pale thermally treated timber, and a metal roof.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Social media posts claim that the signs of iron deficiency, including a pale complexion, hair loss and dry skin are identifiable as ferritin face.
    — Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of pale
Adjective
  • Authorities have said an autopsy led them to believe her cause of death was a result of blunt force trauma after possibly being struck by a vehicle, the Appeal-Democrat newspaper reported.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The medical examiner concluded that Paul died from blunt force trauma, the affidavit states.
    — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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