Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Made less sharp or intense: Refers to something that has been reduced in sharpness, brightness, or intensity.
   • Made less vivid or bright: Describes colors or appearances that have become less bright or have faded.
   • Made less keen or alert: Describes a mind, sense, or interest that has become less sharp, active, or responsive, often due to overexposure or fatigue.

Usage Examples

• Describing a physical edge or point:
  • The knife's edge was dulled from years of use.
• Describing color or light:
  • The once-vibrant painting had dulled with age.
  • The lights in the room were deliberately dulled to create a calm atmosphere.
• Describing mental sharpness or interest:
  • His enthusiasm for the project was dulled by the constant setbacks.
  • After the long lecture, the students' attention was noticeably dulled.

Advanced Usage

• "dulled senses": Refers to a reduced capacity of the senses (sight, hearing, touch, etc.).
  • The medication left her with dulled senses for several hours.
• "dulled by routine": Describes a loss of interest or excitement caused by repetitive, monotonous activities.
  • Her passion for the job was dulled by routine.

Variants and Related Words

• Dull (verb): To make or become less sharp, intense, or bright.
  • The bad news dulled their celebration.
• Dull (adjective): Lacking sharpness, brightness, or interest.
  • a dull blade, a dull day
• Dullness (noun): The state or quality of being dull.
  • the dullness of the metal

Synonyms

• Blunted: Made less sharp.
• Dimmed: Made less bright.
• Faded: Lost brightness or vividness.
• Jaded: Made weary or dulled by overwork or overexposure.
• Benumbed: Deprived of sensation or feeling; made numb.

Antonyms

• Sharpened: Made more sharp or intense.
• Brightened: Made more bright or vivid.
• Stimulated: Made more active or interested.
• Enlivened: Made more lively or cheerful.

Related Phrases

• To become dulled: The process of losing sharpness or intensity.
  • Over time, even the strongest emotions can become dulled.
• Dulled perception: A reduced ability to notice or understand things clearly.
  • Working in noise for years led to a dulled perception of sound.

Adjective

1. deprived of color
   • colors dulled by too much sun
   • greyed with the dust of the road
2. made dull or blunt
3. having lost or been caused to lose interest because of overexposure
   • the mind of the audience is becoming dulled
   • the benumbed intellectual faculties can no longer respond