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dullness
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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈdʌlnɪs/
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026dull /dʌl/USA pronunciation
adj., -er, -est, v. adj. - not sharp;
blunt:a dull knife.
- causing boredom:She almost fell asleep during his dull sermon.
- not lively or spirited;
listless:always feels dull in hot weather.
- not bright, intense, or clear;
dim:a dull, cloudy day.
- having little depth of color:[before a noun]the dull grey of the clouds.
- slow in motion or action;
sluggish:a dull day in the stock market.
- mentally slow;
somewhat stupid.
- lacking keenness in the senses or feelings:[before a noun]He had a dull pain in his stomach.
v. - to (cause to) become dull: [no object]His senses dulled as the drug swept through his body.[~ + object]The smell from the garbage dulled his appetite.
dull•ness, n. [uncountable]
dul•ly, adv.: He answered dully that he didn't really care.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026dull
(dul),USA pronunciation adj., -er, -est, v. adj. - not sharp;
blunt:a dull knife.
- causing boredom;
tedious;
uninteresting:a dull sermon.
- not lively or spirited;
listless.
- not bright, intense, or clear;
dim:a dull day; a dull sound.
- having very little depth of color;
lacking in richness or intensity of color.
- slow in motion or action;
not brisk;
sluggish:a dull day in the stock market.
- mentally slow;
lacking brightness of mind;
somewhat stupid;
obtuse.
- lacking keenness of perception in the senses or feelings;
insensible;
unfeeling.
- not intense or acute:a dull pain.
v.t., v.i. - to make or become dull.
- 1200–50; Middle English; akin to Old English dol foolish, stupid; cognate with German toll
1. Dull, blunt refer to the edge or point of an instrument, tool, or the like. Dull implies a lack or a loss of keenness or sharpness:a dull razor or saw.Blunt may mean the same or may refer to an edge or point not intended to be keen or sharp:a blunt or stub pen; a blunt foil. 2. boring, tiresome, dreary, vapid. 3. apathetic, torpid, inactive, inert. 7. unimaginative, unintelligent, stolid. Dull, blunted, slow, stupid are applied to mental qualities. Dull implies obtuseness, lack of imagination:a dull child.Blunted implies loss of original keenness of intelligence through disease, sad experience, or the like:blunted faculties.Slow applies to a sluggish intellect:a slow mind.Stupid implies slowness of mental processes, but also lack of intelligence, wisdom, prudence, etc.:a stupid person. 10. blunt, deaden, benumb; depress, dishearten, discourage.
1. sharp, keen. 2. interesting. 7. bright.
'dullness' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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