dull

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of DULL

to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling <the aspirin dulled his headache and he was soon feeling better>

Synonyms benumb, blunt, cauterize, damp, dampen, deaden, numb

Related Words muffle, mute, tone (down); decrease, diminish, lessen, let up (on), lower, reduce, subdue; debilitate, enfeeble, weaken; dwindle, recede, subside, taper (off), wane; alleviate, ease, lighten; abate, moderate

Near Antonyms amplify, augment, beef (up), boost, consolidate, deepen, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, redouble, step up, strengthen; animate, arouse, stimulate

Antonyms sharpen, whet

to make white or lighter by removing color <the painting's once-vivid colors have been dulled by time>

Synonyms blanch, bleach, blench, decolorize, dull, fade, pale, snow, wash out

Related Words brighten, lighten; dim, mat (also matte or matt); etiolate; whitewash; frost, silver

Near Antonyms blacken; blotch, checker, dapple, daub, discolor, fleck, marble, mottle, pattern, polychrome, shade, speck, speckle, splotch, spot, streak, striate, stripe, tarnish, variegate; color, dye, paint, pigment, stain, tincture, tinge, tint; burnish, polish, shine

Antonyms darken, deepen, embrown

What made you want to look up dull[verb]? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Put-downs with flair

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears