dulls

verb

present tense third-person singular of dull
1
as in reduces
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling the aspirin dulled his headache and he was soon feeling better

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 dulls Monét sings prettily on both duets, but their conventionality dulls her shine. — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026 Key Takeaways Airborne hydrogen sulfide dulls silver, so many pieces need regular cleaning. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026 Oversaturating floors can result in mold or mildew growth, lifting, warping, or swelling, while the soap can also leave behind a residue that dulls the finish, creating a cloudy or streaky appearance. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026 But Aroonpheng’s worldbuilding is arcane to a fault, with no thanks to a weirdly flat rhythm that dulls the excitement of the film’s many narrative swerves. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026 Over time, these harsh or oily formulas leave behind residue that dulls the shine and attracts dirt, making your floors look cloudy instead of clean. — Martha Stewart, 8 Aug. 2026 Perhaps the palm-tree mural emphasizes the open windowlessness of the subterranean, or the flat color dulls exertion. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026 Your taste buds change at altitude Cabin pressure dulls your ability to taste salt by up to 30%, which is why airline food can taste bland and, well, terrible. — Cindy Dees, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 The 22-year-old was long considered ill-suited for grass, given how the surface dulls the athletic foundation of her game and rushes her forehand. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulls
  1. reduces
  2. fades
  3. numbs
  4. bleaches
  5. deadens
  6. brightens
  7. diminishes
  8. weakens
Verb
  • The anti-immigrant movement reduces kids to constitutional hypotheticals and demographic statistics.
    — Hannah Harshe, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
  • That gives Jaylen Warren a favorable matchup and reduces the need for Aaron Rodgers to force throws downfield.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduces
Verb
  • The question now is whether shoppers counting every dollar will keep paying for products like cashmere-soft diapers once the novelty fades and if inflation keeps biting.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The shot fades into a close-up of Liam, his perfect coif billowing in the ocean breeze.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of fades
Verb
  • The slime of some species also numbs an attacker’s tongue, protecting them from predators.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
  • This is the type of consistency that numbs fans from their love of the game.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Definition of numbs
Verb
  • However, bright light bleaches that chemical, negatively impacting your night vision.
    — Chris McMullen, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Martin uses a color extractor to remove existing dye, then bleaches the hair (except the gray roots) to get it as light as possible.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of bleaches
Verb
  • Oppressively hot, lie-down-and-take-a-nap hot, hydration-break hot, the kind of hot that deadens feet.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of deadens
Verb
  • Today’s recipe Creamy, sweet dates soothe out the lemon in these bars, while the tart lemon brightens up the dates.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The colorful evergreen foliage provides a warm winter welcome on porches and brightens containers throughout the landscape all year long.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of brightens
Verb
  • The local control is missing and the local responsibility diminishes significantly.
    — John E. McDonough, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Pyrad works by instantaneously thickening when exposed to fire, forming a char that diminishes heat exposure, extinguishes flames, and decreases the risk of third-degree burns.
    — Derek Rose, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminishes
Verb
  • Limited inventory continues to support prices, even as buyer demand weakens.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • If the ridge weakens sufficiently, this could eventually open the door to returning rain chances.
    — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of weakens

Browse Nearby Words

dullness
dulls
dullsville
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Cite this Entry

“Dulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulls. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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