to make something less intense, bright, or sharp, to become less intense, bright, or sharp

dull the pain, dull as ditchwater, dull-witted

Formal and Informal Expressions of dulls

In different contexts, you can replace 'dulls' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'diminish, reduce' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'tone down, take the edge off' is a commonplace synonym.

dulls: Explore its Definition & Usage

dulls Definition

1to make something less intense, bright, or sharp
2to become less intense, bright, or sharp

Using dulls: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dulls" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The sun's glare dulls the colors of the landscape.
Example
The pain medication dulled his senses.
Example
The knife needs to be sharpened; it has dulled with use.
Example
The excitement of the party gradually dulled as the night wore on.

dulls Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for dulls

Antonyms for dulls

Phrases with dulls

dull the pain
to reduce the intensity of physical or emotional pain
Example
He took a painkiller to dull the pain in his back.
dull as ditchwater
extremely boring or uninteresting
Example
The lecture was as dull as ditchwater, and I struggled to stay awake.
dull-witted
slow to understand or perceive things
Example
He's not stupid, just a bit dull-witted when it comes to math.

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Summary: dulls in Brief

The verb 'dulls' [duhlz] means to make something less intense, bright, or sharp, or to become less intense, bright, or sharp. It can refer to physical objects like knives or colors, or to emotions like excitement or pain. Phrases like 'dull the pain' and 'dull as ditchwater' extend its meaning.