dull
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
River cruises have long been known as the quiet, slightly dull counterparts to ocean liners.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Anyone taking a cursory glance at Monday’s market may believe it was a dull day.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
And then there is Witkoff, who turned up on even the days that were supposed to be dull, like May 30, 2024, when the jury wasn’t expected to reach a verdict, but then, suddenly, did.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
She gives him lotus flowers to dull his pain, but as he keeps eating them, his memories and sense of identity begin to fade.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
The bus settled to the bottom with a dull thump.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
In addition to changes in appetite, users of the drugs have reported duller senses of taste, less pleasure from eating and related side effects around flavor—phenomena characterized by some as “Ozempic tongue.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
That show is growing duller, and more lethargic and repetitive, by the day, like watching reruns of a canceled sitcom.
From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2026
In fact autumn was actually slightly duller than average and December has seen around average sunshine so far.
From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2025
They don’t always mesh well, and the darker the series gets, the duller it becomes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2024
With no overhead lights the courtroom, always pallid, seemed grayer and duller than ever.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
For most of its long life, public nuisance was among the dullest legal actions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
“When you are a scientist, and you are trying to prove or disprove a notion, you work at the bench doing the dullest, most routine things over and over and over again,” Baltimore once explained.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2025
"I am the dullest person on the planet to them. I've gone from a fast-moving detective to fluff and stuff."
From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2024
The first half might have been one of the dullest of a tournament that has already seen five 0-0 draws.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 27, 2022
Which she did on the dullest flattest day he could remember, a throw-away day in March when he drove his father’s two-tone Ford over to her house for two bottles of wine.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
The mouths of journalists were agape, but time dulls horrific reality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026
But the passage of time naturally dulls the horror for people farther away.
From Slate ● Jan. 14, 2026
In theory, each ingredient plays a role: one dries secretions, another loosens phlegm, a third dulls the cough reflex.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2025
The jargon used in scientific reports and global climate conferences also creates a sense of detachment that dulls the living things it refers to.
From Salon ● Mar. 24, 2025
The sharp pain in my heart dulls to an ache, though my thoughts are still full of my family.
From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell
Part of the problem: The U.K. version’s edginess was dulled for U.S. airwaves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2026
The law’s shield is shattered, and its sword is dulled.
From Slate ● May 1, 2026
The bigger question now may be less about appearance and more about whether age and inactivity have dulled those attributes.
From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026
Five years after a Times investigation dulled the shine of the glitzy Hollywood affair, the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, airing Sunday, will cap off a multi-day series of events and tributes now dubbed “Golden Week.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2026
We children tiptoed around them or else played in the farthest reaches of the yard, our voices dulled lest they incite our parents.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
He says this wetter weather has been having "a dulling effect" on the Giant's outline, leaving it greener and less distinct between maintenance work.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
Paradoxically, it is the unwavering commitment to a narrow range of recognizable figures, dulling in its totality, that turned his signature style into a full-blown brand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
The higher costs have prompted chocolate makers to raise their prices, dulling consumers' appetite for the sweets.
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2025
Kristen Nuss was covered in sand, dulling her neon two-piece swimsuit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2025
Slavery was a long slow process of dulling.
From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
Vocabulary lists containing dull
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
