Word: Dull

Pronunciation

/dʌl/

Definitions

• Adjective: Lacking brightness, interest, or excitement; not shiny or sharp; slow-witted or unresponsive. For example:

  • “The room was lit by a dull lamp.” (describing lack of brightness)
  • “The lecture was incredibly dull.” (indicating lack of interest)
  • “His once-sharp knife had become dull over time.” (meaning not sharp)
  • “He felt dull after a long day at work.” (referring to being mentally sluggish)

• Verb: To make something less bright, sharp, or interesting; to become less bright, sharp, or interesting. For example:

  • “The rain dulled the colors of the painting.” (making less bright)
  • “Overuse dulled the blade of the scissors.” (making less sharp)
  • “Her spirits were dulled by the constant criticism.” (becoming less responsive emotionally)

Phrases

• “Dull the senses”: To cause someone to feel less alert or aware.
• “A dull ache”: A persistent, but not intense, pain.
• “Lead a dull life”: To live a monotonous or uninteresting existence.

Example Sentences

• Adjective: “The gray sky cast a dull light over the landscape.”
• Verb: “She tried to polish the silverware to remove the dullness from it.”
• “Years of neglect had dulled the once vibrant garden’s appeal.”

Synonyms

• Uninteresting
• Boring
• Tedious
• Monotonous
• Blunt (when referring to edges)
• Dim (in terms of light)
• Insipid (for lack of liveliness or spirit)
• Lusterless (for describing a lack of shine or brilliance)
• Stupid (when referring to intellect)