Dull (Verb)
Meaning 1
Become dull or lusterless in appearance; lose shine or brightness; "the varnished table top dulled with time".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The once bright red paint dulled after years of exposure to the sun.
- The mirror dulled with age and needed polishing to restore its shine.
- The shiny new bike dulled after being left outside in the rainy nights.
- Her bright smile dulled as the bad news was delivered to her.
- Over time, the gold trim dulled and lost its original luster and shine.
Meaning 2
Make dull or blunt; "Too much cutting dulls the knife's edge".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Using the same pair of scissors to cut thick materials can eventually dull the blades.
- The continuous effort to slice through the tough leather strips will dull the razor's edge.
- If you keep sharpening a pencil at the wrong angle it can dull the point and make it unusable.
- The excessive hammering may have caused the metal file's tip to dull over time.
- Regularly sawing through nails and other hard objects can dull a handsaw's teeth quickly.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 3
Deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping.
Classification
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
Become less interesting or attractive.
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 5
Make less lively or vigorous; "Middle age dulled her appetite for travel".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Meaning 6
Make dull in appearance; "Age had dulled the surface".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The city's pollution had dulled the once vibrant colors of the street art.
- Years of exposure to sunlight had dulled the colors of the tapestry.
- Rust had dulled the shine on the old tools.
- The layers of dust had dulled the gleam of the crystal chandelier.
- The constant rain had dulled the surface of the city streets.
Hypernyms
Meaning 7
Make numb or insensitive; "The shock numbed her senses".
Classification
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling.