Dull: meaning, definitions and examples

Dull is used to describe something that lacks brightness, sharpness, or excitement. It can refer to both physical objects and abstract concepts like events or personalities.

• The knife is dull and needs sharpening.
• The lecture was so dull that many students fell asleep.

Boring refers to something that fails to interest or excite people. It's often used to describe activities, events, or people that are not engaging.

• The movie was boring and we left halfway through.
• He gave a very boring speech that put everyone to sleep.

Tedious is used for tasks or activities that are both long and boring, often requiring a lot of effort but offering little reward or excitement.

• Filling out all these forms is a tedious process.
• Reading the instruction manual was a tedious task.

Uninteresting refers to something that does not capture attention or imagination, making it dull or boring. It's often a more neutral term for things that simply don't pique interest.

• The book was uninteresting, so I stopped reading it.
• His stories were uninteresting and didn't hold anyone's attention.

Monotonous describes something that is repetitive and lacks variety, making it tiresome. It's often used for tasks, routines, or sounds.

• Her job consists of monotonous tasks like data entry.
• The teacher's monotonous voice made it hard to stay focused.

Used to describe something lacking sharpness, brightness, or interest. It can refer to objects, feelings, or activities.

• The knife is too dull to cut the vegetables.
• The lecture was so dull that many students fell asleep.

Implies a reduction in size, importance, or intensity. Often used in a somewhat formal or neutral context.

• His recent errors have diminished his reputation as a reliable employee.
• The medicine can diminish the symptoms of the disease.

Indicates a reduction in strength, power, or effectiveness. Often used in situations involving physical strength, health, or structural integrity.

• The disease will gradually weaken her immune system.
• The storm weakened the bridge, making it unsafe.

Refers to the lack of a sharp edge or point. It can also describe a manner of speaking that is very direct and perhaps tactless.

• The scissors are blunt and can't cut through paper.
• Her blunt remarks about their performance hurt their feelings.

Describes a process of making something less hard or severe. It can be physical, like softening butter, or metaphorical, like softening a stance on an issue.

• She used a conditioner to soften her hair.
• He tried to soften the criticism by offering some praise first.