dull
dull /ˈdʌl/
adjective
-
(
)
Emitting or reflecting very little light
(
dull
)
emitting or reflecting very little light
A dull glow
a dull glow
Dull silver badly in need of a polish
dull silver badly in need of a polish
A dull sky
a dull sky
-
()
Lacking in liveliness or animation
(
hebetudinous
, dull
)
lacking in liveliness or animation
He was so dull at parties
he was so dull at parties
A dull political campaign
a dull political campaign
A large dull impassive man
a large dull impassive man
Dull days with nothing to do
dull days with nothing to do
How dull and dreary the world is
how dull and dreary the world is
Fell back into one of her dull moods
fell back into one of her dull moods
-
()
(of color) very low in saturation; highly diluted
(
dull
)
(of color) very low in saturation; highly diluted
Dull greens and blues
dull greens and blues
-
()
So lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
(
deadening
, ho-hum
[Informal] , slow
, boring
, irksome
, tiresome
, wearisome
, draggy
[Informal] , mind-numbing
, dull
, tedious
)
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
A boring evening with uninteresting people
a boring evening with uninteresting people
The deadening effect of some routine tasks
the deadening effect of some routine tasks
A dull play
a dull play
His competent but dull performance
his competent but dull performance
A ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention
a ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention
What an irksome task the writing of long letters is
what an irksome task the writing of long letters is
Tedious days on the train
tedious days on the train
The tiresome chirping of a cricket
the tiresome chirping of a cricket
Other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome
other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome
-
()
Being or made softer or less loud or clear
(
muted
, softened
, dull
, muffled
)
being or made softer or less loud or clear
The dull boom of distant breaking waves
the dull boom of distant breaking waves
Muffled drums
muffled drums
The muffled noises of the street
the muffled noises of the street
Muted trumpets
muted trumpets
-
()
(of business) not active or brisk
(
slow
, sluggish
, dull
)
(of business) not active or brisk
Business is dull (or slow)
business is dull (or slow)
A sluggish market
a sluggish market
-
()
Slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
(
dense
, dim
, obtuse
, dull
, dumb
, slow
)
slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
So dense he never understands anything I say to him
so dense he never understands anything I say to him
Never met anyone quite so dim
never met anyone quite so dim
Although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick
although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick
Dumb officials make some really dumb decisions
dumb officials make some really dumb decisions
He was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse
he was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse
Worked with the slow students
worked with the slow students
-
()
Not keenly felt
(
dull
)
not keenly felt
A dull throbbing
a dull throbbing
Dull pain
dull pain
-
Darkened with overcast
(
dull
, leaden
)
darkened with overcast
A dark day
a dark day
A dull sky
a dull sky
The sky was leaden and thick
the sky was leaden and thick
-
Not having a sharp edge or point
(
dull
)
not having a sharp edge or point
The knife was too dull to be of any use
the knife was too dull to be of any use
-
Not clear and resonant; sounding as if striking with or against something relatively soft
(
dull
, thudding
)
not clear and resonant; sounding as if striking with or against something relatively soft
The dull thud
the dull thud
Thudding bullets
thudding bullets
-
Blunted in responsiveness or sensibility
(
dull
)
blunted in responsiveness or sensibility
A dull gaze
a dull gaze
So exhausted she was dull to what went on about her
so exhausted she was dull to what went on about her
verb
-
()
Become dull or lusterless in appearance; lose shine or brightness
(
dull
)
become dull or lusterless in appearance; lose shine or brightness
The varnished table top dulled with time
the varnished table top dulled with time
-
()
Make dull in appearance
(
dull
)
make dull in appearance
Age had dulled the surface
Age had dulled the surface
-
Make less lively or vigorous
(
dull
)
make less lively or vigorous
Middle age dulled her appetite for travel
Middle age dulled her appetite for travel
-
Become less interesting or attractive
(
dull
, pall
)
become less interesting or attractive
-
Make dull or blunt
(
blunt
, dull
)
make dull or blunt
Too much cutting dulls the knife's edge
Too much cutting dulls the knife's edge
-
Make numb or insensitive
(
benumb
, blunt
, dull
, numb
)
make numb or insensitive
The shock numbed her senses
The shock numbed her senses
-
Deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
(
damp
, dampen
, dull
, muffle
, mute
, tone down
)
deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
