dullness

UK: /ˈdʌlnɪs/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dull /dʌl/   adj., -er, -est, v. 
adj. 

1. not sharp;
   blunt:
   a dull knife.
2. causing boredom:
   She almost fell asleep during his dull sermon.
3. not lively or spirited;
   listless:
   always feels dull in hot weather.
4. not bright, intense, or clear;
   dim:
   a dull, cloudy day.
5. having little depth of color:
   [before a noun] the dull grey of the clouds.
6. slow in motion or action;
   sluggish:
   a dull day in the stock market.
7. mentally slow;
   somewhat stupid.
8. lacking keenness in the senses or feelings:
   [before a noun] He had a dull pain in his stomach.

v. 

9. to (cause to) become dull: [no object]
   His senses dulled as the drug swept through his body.
   [~ + object]
   The smell from the garbage dulled his appetite.

dull•ness, n. [uncountable]
dul•ly, adv.: 

He answered dully that he didn't really care.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dull  (dul), adj., -er, -est, v. 
adj. 

1. not sharp;
   blunt:
   a dull knife.
2. causing boredom;
   tedious;
   uninteresting:
   a dull sermon.
3. not lively or spirited;
   listless.
4. not bright, intense, or clear;
   dim:
   a dull day; a dull sound.
5. having very little depth of color;
   lacking in richness or intensity of color.
6. slow in motion or action;
   not brisk;
   sluggish:
   a dull day in the stock market.
7. mentally slow;
   lacking brightness of mind;
   somewhat stupid;
   obtuse.
8. lacking keenness of perception in the senses or feelings;
   insensible;
   unfeeling.
9. not intense or acute:
   a dull pain.

v.t., v.i. 

10. to make or become dull.

• 1200–50; Middle English; akin to Old English dol foolish, stupid; cognate with German toll

dull′ness, dul′ness, n. 
dul′ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. Dull, blunt refer to the edge or point of an instrument, tool, or the like.
  Dull implies a lack or a loss of keenness or sharpness:
  a dull razor or saw.
  Blunt may mean the same or may refer to an edge or point not intended to be keen or sharp:
  a blunt or stub pen; a blunt foil.
• 2. boring, tiresome, dreary, vapid.
• 3. apathetic, torpid, inactive, inert.
• 7. unimaginative, unintelligent, stolid.
  Dull, blunted, slow, stupid are applied to mental qualities.
  Dull implies obtuseness, lack of imagination:
  a dull child.
  Blunted implies loss of original keenness of intelligence through disease, sad experience, or the like:
  blunted faculties.
  Slow applies to a sluggish intellect:
  a slow mind.
  Stupid implies slowness of mental processes, but also lack of intelligence, wisdom, prudence, etc.:
  a stupid person.
• 10. blunt, deaden, benumb; depress, dishearten, discourage.

Antonyms

• 1. sharp, keen.
• 2. interesting.
• 7. bright.