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
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Recent Examples of dulls
Roasting the root veggie dulls their spiciness and brings out their natural sweetness, so much so, the technique might just convert some radish haters.
—
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
Despite its stellar cast, the cumbersome plot dulls the comedic beats that would otherwise be razor-sharp.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
After months of cold weather, your windows are likely coated with a layer of grime that dulls your view and makes even the brightest day feel a little gray.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
The blade is made of 440A stainless steel, which is reasonably durable for lighter use, but dulls relatively fast and is softer overall.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2026
The common expectation is that loss dulls over time, that the sharp edges round off.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
His muscles waste, his mind dulls, his body collapses inward until only a voice remains, thin and disembodied.
—Gilberto Lopes, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
The repetition dulls whatever voltage the pairing once carried.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2026
Yes, the glossy aesthetic occasionally dulls the impact of the director’s more tactile sensibilities, and a few script contrivances stretch believability.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
Despite its stellar cast, the cumbersome plot dulls the comedic beats that would otherwise be razor-sharp.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
After months of cold weather, your windows are likely coated with a layer of grime that dulls your view and makes even the brightest day feel a little gray.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
The blade is made of 440A stainless steel, which is reasonably durable for lighter use, but dulls relatively fast and is softer overall.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2026
The common expectation is that loss dulls over time, that the sharp edges round off.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
His muscles waste, his mind dulls, his body collapses inward until only a voice remains, thin and disembodied.
—Gilberto Lopes, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
The repetition dulls whatever voltage the pairing once carried.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2026
Yes, the glossy aesthetic occasionally dulls the impact of the director’s more tactile sensibilities, and a few script contrivances stretch believability.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulls
Verb
-
This single habit dramatically reduces soap scum, the same buildup that makes tile floors dangerously slippery.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This reduces their effectiveness, slowing down your machine and causing long-term damage.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It's become the default mode of governing for majorities in Congress as bipartisanship on major issues fades away.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Come evening, the pizza oven glows or a local farm-to-table chef cooks as the light fades.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is the type of consistency that numbs fans from their love of the game.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Cold water immersion constricts blood vessels, reduces swelling, numbs sore areas, and flushes lactic acid from the muscles.—
Outside,
Outside,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
His owner, Hannah Gleason from Oklahoma, told Newsweek that the merle gene isn’t a coloring gene rather than a gene that bleaches the fur and causes lack of pigmentation which can lead to birth defects, blindness, deafness, or sometimes all three.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Going farther west, however, brightens the sky even more and anywhere west of a line from approximately central Michigan, going south through east-central Kentucky to the Gulf Coast will be bathed in full daylight.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
As a professional online shopper, nothing brightens up my day quite like scoring a budget-friendly haul.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Cutting educational, recreational, arts and youth development activities not only diminishes quality of life but may also lead to juvenile delinquency, justice system involvement or dependency on government assistance.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Perpetuating ageism diminishes all of us.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Expanding nonmedical exemptions, however, weakens the very protections those medically vulnerable children depend on.—
Sarah Marsicek,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Critics say allowing the department to delay or sideline state investigations weakens one of the last independent checks on government lawyers.—
Jaclyn Diaz,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The cinematography drains vitality from even its most visually obvious ideas with lighting that blunts the impact of nearly every other department.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2026
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By this decade, your body has started to naturally lose muscle mass, and putting on new muscle may be more difficult due to anabolic resistance, which blunts the muscle’s ability to respond to external stimuli like exercise and protein.—
Emma Loewe,
Outside,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulls. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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