26984 words

dull

14 definitions • 33 examples
1
not interesting or exciting in any way:

Examples:

deadly dull He's pleasant enough, but deadly dull.
2
not clear, bright, or shiny:

Examples:

The bird is a dull yellow colour.
dull glow We could just see a dull glow given off by the fire's last embers.
Her eyes looked dull, as if she was half asleep.
How can I make my dull hair more shiny?
3
(of weather, sky) cloudy, with the sun not shining:

Examples:

The first day of our holiday was dull.
It was a dull, cloudy day.
The beach didn't look so pretty under dull skies.
4
A dull knife or blade is not sharp:

Examples:

To remove the wax, let it harden, then scrape it off with a dull knife.
The blade was too dull to cut through the meat.
He fought so fiercely that his sword became dull.
5
A dull sound or pain is not sharp or clear:

Examples:

dull thud I heard a dull thud from the kitchen and realized she must have fainted.
The dull rumble of traffic woke her.
dull ache She felt a dull ache at the back of her head.
6
7
to make something such as a feeling less sharp and strong, or to become less sharp and strong:

Examples:

Many people use alcohol to dull their pain.
The medication dulled her senses.
There was no way to dull the noise of the bombardment.
My sight may have dulled, but my other senses are sharper.
8
to become or make something become less clear, bright, or shiny:

Examples:

Layers of resin applied to the painting had dulled its colour.
Often a diamond ring has been dulled by skin oils, soap, and cosmetics.
The light in his eyes dulled.
9
to make a knife or blade less sharp, or to become less sharp:

Examples:

All he had with him was a notebook and a dulled pocket knife.
He produced a rusty old blade that had dulled long ago.
10

Examples:

Many of the courtroom events were dull and routine.
The lecture was dry, dull, and full of statistics.
11
not clear, bright, or shiny:

Examples:

The day started off dull and overcast with a threat of showers.
12
(esp. of sound or pain) not sharp or clear:

Examples:

a dull knife
I heard a dull thud from the kitchen.
She felt a dull ache at the back of her head.
13
to make something less sharp or clear:

Examples:

Lack of sleep will dull your reflexes.
14
used to describe a situation in which business activity is slow:

Examples:

Trading was dull as investors were sidelined because of a lack of good news.
The earnings outlook is dull.

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