dulls

verb

present tense third-person singular of dull
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dulls Over time, these harsh or oily formulas leave behind residue that dulls the shine and attracts dirt, making your floors look cloudy instead of clean. — Martha Stewart, 8 Aug. 2026 Perhaps the palm-tree mural emphasizes the open windowlessness of the subterranean, or the flat color dulls exertion. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026 Your taste buds change at altitude Cabin pressure dulls your ability to taste salt by up to 30%, which is why airline food can taste bland and, well, terrible. — Cindy Dees, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 The 22-year-old was long considered ill-suited for grass, given how the surface dulls the athletic foundation of her game and rushes her forehand. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 July 2026 In those conditions, the same technology that dulls passive learning can dramatically expand human creativity. — Vicki Phillips, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 And that difference matters, because the same adaptation that dulls our good experiences can dull a gratitude practice, too. — Angela Haupt, Time, 23 June 2026 Concern has grown over on whether AI will become a catalyst that enriches humanity or a technological toxin that dulls human intelligence while wiping out millions of high-paying jobs. — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026 Absent the friction of putting thoughts into language, thinking dulls. — Jamil Zaki, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dulls
  1. reduces
  2. fades
  3. numbs
  4. bleaches
  5. deadens
  6. brightens
  7. diminishes
  8. weakens
Verb
  • Bright colors pop across the entire massive IPS panel, even at different viewing angles, and a zippy 100Hz refresh rate reduces lag and keeps everything on-screen smooth.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Swimming also reduces stress as rhythmic breathing and movement trigger the release of brain chemicals such as endorphins and dopamine, which produce a sense of euphoria and well-being.
    — Michael McColly, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduces
Verb
  • Too often, participation fades just as the lifelong benefits begin.
    — Lindsay Davenport, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Slowing down to test demand, unit economics and operational readiness helps companies avoid costly overexpansion and build growth that lasts after the hype fades.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of fades
Verb
  • The slime of some species also numbs an attacker’s tongue, protecting them from predators.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
  • This is the type of consistency that numbs fans from their love of the game.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Definition of numbs
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
Definition of bleaches
Verb
  • Oppressively hot, lie-down-and-take-a-nap hot, hydration-break hot, the kind of hot that deadens feet.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of deadens
Verb
  • Meanwhile, glycerin, betaine, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, and beta-glucan flood the area with hydration, while niacinamide brightens the look of dullness and uneven tone.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Its dewy coverage gives cheeks a bright, doll-like, natural flush that highlights the cheekbones and brightens complexions.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of brightens
Verb
  • The filter significantly diminishes elements commonly found in water that can be damaging, like chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, heavy metals, and more.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026
  • My belief in the freshmen’s collective greatness diminishes throughout the program.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminishes
Verb
  • The use of noble language to describe a process that weakens constitutional guardrails only widens the disconnect between words and actions.
    — Yuripzy Morgan, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The erosion of those countries’ industrial capacity ultimately weakens their ability to compete with and resist China economically, diplomatically, and militarily.
    — Bill Cassidy, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakens

Browse Nearby Words

dullness
dulls
dullsville
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Cite this Entry

“Dulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dulls. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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