variants
also dulness
as in thickness
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind
the dullness of the characters in horror movies cannot be overstated
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of dullness
It’s known for its brightening properties, and Rare Beauty’s Always an Optimist Mist is chock-full of it—perfect for anyone experiencing a bout of dullness.
—
Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 21 Apr. 2026
The brand promises results in four weeks—we’re talking reduced fine lines, dullness, and dark circles, along with improved elasticity, thanks to collagen-stimulating regrowth that encourages a more youthful appearance.
—Lauren Pardee, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, arrowroot extract adds volume, aloe vera extract adds a bit of shine (to prevent chalkiness and dullness), and celery root extract soothes the scalp.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
Their bestselling Regenerating Cleanser gently polishes away impurities and dullness to reveal a healthy-looking, radiant glow, clinically proven to make skin look brighter, smoother, more hydrated and pores look smaller.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Now the brand is tackling dullness in blonde hair with its purple shampoo.
—Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
While viral videos often blame everything from breakouts to dullness on air conditioning alone, Jafari says the reality is less dramatic.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
With the names of the two Kansas Cities firmly established over time, complaints about their dullness or geographical inaccuracy were largely confined to letters to the editor.
—Elijah Winkler, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2026
Olay’s Retinol24 Night Body Lotion takes that same logic and applies it to larger areas of the body, targeting uneven texture, dullness, and the early signs of aging skin.
—Hana Hong, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2026
Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 21 Apr. 2026
The brand promises results in four weeks—we’re talking reduced fine lines, dullness, and dark circles, along with improved elasticity, thanks to collagen-stimulating regrowth that encourages a more youthful appearance.
—Lauren Pardee, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, arrowroot extract adds volume, aloe vera extract adds a bit of shine (to prevent chalkiness and dullness), and celery root extract soothes the scalp.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
Their bestselling Regenerating Cleanser gently polishes away impurities and dullness to reveal a healthy-looking, radiant glow, clinically proven to make skin look brighter, smoother, more hydrated and pores look smaller.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Now the brand is tackling dullness in blonde hair with its purple shampoo.
—Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
While viral videos often blame everything from breakouts to dullness on air conditioning alone, Jafari says the reality is less dramatic.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
With the names of the two Kansas Cities firmly established over time, complaints about their dullness or geographical inaccuracy were largely confined to letters to the editor.
—Elijah Winkler, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2026
Olay’s Retinol24 Night Body Lotion takes that same logic and applies it to larger areas of the body, targeting uneven texture, dullness, and the early signs of aging skin.
—Hana Hong, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dullness
Noun
-
Hillsides covered in fuel The hills surrounding Concepción, Penco and Lirquén appear deep green from the air, carpeted in trees, and in the thickness of these forests lies an insidious risk.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
-
MacRumors thinks this could end up reducing the thickness of the iPhone’s display stack while improving brightness and minimizing power use.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The slowness of encryption forces them to triage.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Julia's confession Fed up with local law enforcement's slowness and unresponsiveness, Christine and Katas eventually get FBI agent Dawn Martin on the case.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Unlike its sibling concepts of dumbness and idiocy, stupidity isn’t really a personality trait.—
Jonny Thomson,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Compare that to punk rock, which used dumbness as a tactic.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Tiernan is tall but carries the denseness of frame and core strength of a guard.—
Matthew Mowery,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
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Understand how rye works in baking Though dark, dense rye bread is delicious, rye flour does not inherently create denseness in other baked goods.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That men like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are entrusted with businesses of tectonic influence can be difficult to understand, but their cults of personality have been able to survive scrutiny, perhaps because the money itself is too imposing a firewall for their own stupidity to penetrate.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
19 Apr. 2026
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Eric Swalwell, a prominent Democratic House member and a front-runner in the race for California governor, had his political career blown up by allegations of degeneracy and abject stupidity.—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There’s the White House and its malicious megaphone of mindlessness; the generative AI advocates and their pushy, pathetic ploys; the Major League Baseball owners and their dedication to self-destruction.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The show’s real villain is mindlessness, in other words.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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What Vitamin D Actually Does in the Body Vitamin D supports calcium regulation, bone density, muscle function and brain health.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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This level of energy density is notably higher than the 150–250 Wh/kg range typically found in the conventional lithium-ion batteries used in current electronics and electric vehicles.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The pressure brought forth both boneheadedness and brilliance.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dullness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dullness. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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