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dulled

dulled

4.3
Made less strong or clear
  • adjective
  • /dʌld/
translation icon : embotado
  • Dulled, atrophied, and muddled of mind, these stupid animals accept their cage and their Cage Master.

My my nerve endings just got all dulled.

Examples

  • It's a little dulled down, if you will.

  • Eyes that grew dull with waiting but are not dull now.

  • The lace mask fits tightly onto the face and chin to visually sculpt and reshape dull and sagging skin.

  • After weeks of studying, her enthusiasm for the subject had dulled significantly.

  • The colors of the painting had dulled over time, losing their original vibrancy.

  • His memories of that event were dulled by the passage of time and frequent retelling.

Synonyms

washed-out
vsdulled
4 4.4

A color or object that has lost brightness and looks pale

means less bright or vivid in general, not only pale in look
attenuated
vsdulled
1 7.2

Made weaker or less strong

is used more generally for everyday loss of sharpness or brightness
lusterless
vsdulled
  • US
1 7.2

Not shiny and showing little energy or life

is a broader term for reduced clarity, sharpness, or effectiveness
blunted
vsdulled
4.6

Made less sharp or strong, like an edge, a feeling, a taste

applies more broadly to loss of brightness, intensity, or overall effectiveness
dullish
vsdulled
4.2

Not very sharp and cuts poorly

refers to a wider loss of brightness or intensity, not only blades
lessened
vsdulled
2.1

Smaller in amount, degree, or strength

emphasizes loss of clarity, brightness, or effectiveness rather than just amount
diminished
vsdulled
  • Specialized
4.4

Smaller in size, strength or importance

focuses on losing sharpness, brightness, or effectiveness rather than size or value
dimmed
vsdulled
2.5

Less bright when someone turns the light down

covers loss of intensity beyond light, such as sound or feeling
faded
vsdulled
2.1

Clothes or photos with color that is no longer bright and looks washed out

describes general loss of sharpness or intensity, not only color
greyed
vsdulled
4.5

Showing a pale, dull color from age, dust, or sun

covers any loss of brightness or intensity beyond simple muting of color
deadened
vsdulled
5.1

Less strong so a feeling or pain is not as intense

refers to losing sharpness or brightness generally, not only feelings
benumbed
vsdulled
8.3

Not able to feel or react after watching too much news

describes a general lessening of sharpness or intensity rather than total loss of feeling

Antonyms

301 1.0

A thing with an edge that can cut or pierce

235 1.0

Having a strong, vivid color that is easy to notice

How Sharp

keen
57 2.8
sharp
55 1.3
dulled
4.3
blunt
109 1.0

Surface Forms

dulled positive

Morphology

dulled = dull (transparent) = dull + ed

Formed from the verb 'dull' plus the productive adjectival/past-participle suffix '-ed', so the meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Dulled comes from the simple adjective dull, which means 'not sharp' or 'not bright'. So if something is dulled, it has been made less sharp, bright, or strong, like a knife that has lost its edge or a feeling that has faded.