Meaning
Dull has several related meanings depending on the context:
- Not interesting → boring, lacking excitement.
- Not bright or sharp → faint in color, blunt (for knives/tools).
- Slow in mind or senses → not quick to understand or react.
- Weak in intensity → pain, sound, or weather that is not strong.
Grammar and Usage
-
Adjective: "The lecture was dull."
-
Verb (transitive/intransitive): to make or become less intense, sharp, or bright.
- Example: "The medicine dulled the pain."
Comparative: duller Superlative: dullest
Common Phrases
- "dull as dishwater" = very boring
- "dull ache" = a weak, continuous pain
- "dull weather" = cloudy, without sunshine
- "dull knife" = not sharp
Collocations
- dull + noun: dull pain, dull moment, dull life, dull light
- verb + dull: dull the senses, dull the pain, dull the blade
- adverb + dull: extremely dull, painfully dull, rather dull
Examples
- The lecture was so dull that several students fell asleep.
- The knife has become dull after years of use.
- She felt a dull ache in her lower back.
- The colors in the old painting looked dull compared to the new one.
- His dull eyes showed no enthusiasm.
- The medicine dulled the sharp pain in his leg.
- It was a dull day with gray clouds covering the sky.
- He is clever in math but dull in history.
Synonyms or Related
- Boring
- Lifeless
- Blunt
- Weak
- Dreary
Antonym
- Bright
- Sharp
- Exciting
- Vivid
- Lively