"although she flashed a dulcet smile, she was secretly seething with resentment",
"Recent Examples on the Web",
"The first teaser for Distant Lands featured the soft, dulcet tones of BMO singing a song, as performed by voice actor Niki Yang, and the clip reveals more of the on-screen tune. \u2014 EW.com , 11 June 2020",
"Somewhere, a Bluetooth speaker was stashed away and playing the kind of soft, dulcet melodies heard in expensive spas. \u2014 New York Times , 6 Dec. 2019",
"But inside and down a few stairs, there is faint, dulcet chanting piped through speakers. \u2014 Written By Kaya Laterman; Photographs By Mark Abramson, New York Times , 22 Dec. 2017",
"The dulcet tones of Kylie Jenner's secret album made with input from Kanye and Tyga"
],
"first_known_use":{
"15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1":""
},
"history_and_etymology":{
"Middle English doucet , from Anglo-French, from duz, douz sweet, from Latin dulcis ; perhaps akin to Greek glykys sweet":""
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259l-s\u0259t"
],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"synonyms":[
"agreeable",
"blessed",
"blest",
"congenial",
"darling",
"delectable",
"delicious",
"delightful",
"delightsome",
"dreamy",
"enjoyable",
"felicitous",
"good",
"grateful",
"gratifying",
"heavenly",
"jolly",
"luscious",
"nice",
"palatable",
"pleasant",
"pleasing",
"pleasurable",
"pretty",
"satisfying",
"savory",
"savoury",
"sweet",
"tasty",
"welcome"
],
"time_of_retrieval":"20220706-192740",
"type":[
"adjective",
"adverb"
]
},
"dull":{
"antonyms":[
"benumb",
"blunt",
"cauterize",
"damp",
"dampen",
"deaden",
"numb"
],
"definitions":{
": cloudy":[
"dull weather"
],
": lacking brilliance or luster":[
"a dull finish"
],
": lacking in force, intensity, or sharpness":[
"a dull ache"
],
": lacking sharpness of edge or point":[
"a dull knife"
],
": lacking zest (see zest sense 2 ) or vivacity : listless":[
"a dull performance"
],
": low in saturation (see saturation sense 4a ) and low in lightness":[
"a dull green"
],
": mentally slow : stupid":[],
": not resonant or ringing":[
"a dull booming sound"
],
": slow in action : sluggish":[
"dull markets"
],
": slow in perception or sensibility : insensible":[
"somewhat dull of hearing",
"dull to what went on about her",
"\u2014 Willa Cather"
],
": tedious , uninteresting":[
"dull lectures"
],
": to become dull":[
"The blade dulled with use."
],
": to make dull":[
"dull a knife's edge"
]
},
"examples":[
"Adjective",
"the dull roar of the crowd",
"the dull knife just bounced off the skin of the tomato without cutting it",
"Verb",
"Fog dulled the morning sunlight.",
"Special earplugs dulled the sound of the chain saw.",
"His hair dulled as he aged.",
"The dog's eyes dulled as he got sick.",
"She takes medicine to dull the pain.",
"Fear dulled his need for adventure.",
"The knife was dulled from use.",
"The blade should be replaced as soon as it dulls .",
"Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective",
"Zinfandels tended to be heavy and dull , Pinot Noirs tasted like fruit bombs, Sauvignon Blancs like fruit punch and Rieslings were flabby. \u2014 John Mariani, Forbes , 17 June 2022",
"His choreography presents the Taylor company dancers, costumed by Clarion Overmoyer in dull , baggy two-piece outfits and socks, as drab and thanklessly challenged. \u2014 Robert Greskovic, WSJ , 17 June 2022",
"That shift in locale comes like a breath of fresh air after intermission, since Todd Rosenthal\u2019s set design for the eccentric storefront is way more fun to look at than all those dull wine bottles in the first half. \u2014 Chris Willman, Variety , 16 June 2022",
"Dust, sweat, lotion, food, and dirt can affect the way your watch band looks and dull or discolor the material. \u2014 Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens , 16 June 2022",
"The Suzani area rug livens up dull , lifeless rooms with its vibrant hues and decorative floral pattern. \u2014 Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure , 13 June 2022",
"Per Greg Prodromides, La Prairie\u2019s chief marketing officer, the product is best for those with skin that is fragile, thin, dry, rough and dull , and/or deficient in nutrients. \u2014 Lindy Segal, Harper's BAZAAR , 9 June 2022",
"Vitamin C is a brightening agent that can help your skin get out of a dull situation. \u2014 Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune , 7 June 2022",
"By the same token, in what can seem like a dull , gray, repressive situation \u2014 a place like New York in the 1960s, where gay people had been struggling for generations \u2014 Stonewall can happen. \u2014 Zan Romanoff, Los Angeles Times , 6 June 2022",
"Recent Examples on the Web: Verb",
"Smith said access was a prime reason why marginalized groups would seek to dull the pressures of the world through alcohol. \u2014 John-john Williams Iv, Baltimore Sun , 23 June 2022",
"France isn\u2019t the only country spending lavishly to dull the effects of the energy crisis. \u2014 Eric Sylvers, WSJ , 18 June 2022",
"Some of the political satire's bite has faded as our world has become more absurd and shocking, but that doesn't dull the sharpness of star Julia Louis-Dreyfus' performance in the HBO Emmy-favorite. \u2014 Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY , 16 June 2022",
"Higher interest rates tend to dull the allure of companies that are hoping to deliver big profits years down the line. \u2014 Akane Otani, WSJ , 20 May 2022",
"Vaccination appears to dull the subvariants' edge, however. \u2014 Beth Mole, Ars Technica , 2 May 2022",
"The point of the satire, so perfectly sharp in the initial confrontations \u2014 with White and Nakamura making a terrific comedy team \u2014 begins to dull as the emphasis shifts from verbal to physical humor. \u2014 New York Times , 27 Apr. 2022",
"Billy, who struggles with a mood disorder and was psychologically abused by his father, relies on escapist storytelling and alcohol to dull his pain. \u2014 Leah Tyler, ajc , 25 Apr. 2022",
"The ease with which some Russians are moving money via crypto doesn't necessarily dull the pain of sanctions since crypto remains niche and accessible to only a sliver of the population, Reynolds says. \u2014 Yvonne Lau, Fortune , 30 Mar. 2022"
],
"first_known_use":{
"13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7":"Adjective",
"13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense":"Verb"
},
"history_and_etymology":{
"Middle English dul ; akin to Old English dol foolish, Old Irish dall blind":"Adjective and Verb"
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259l"
],
"synonym_discussion":"Choose the Right Synonym for dull Adjective dull , blunt , obtuse mean not sharp, keen, or acute. dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency. a dull pain a dull mind blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception. a person of blunt sensibility obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination. too obtuse to take the hint synonyms see in addition stupid",
"synonyms":[
"blunt",
"blunted",
"dulled",
"obtuse"
],
"time_of_retrieval":"20220707-060612",
"type":[
"adjective",
"adverb",
"noun",
"verb"
]
},
"dullard":{
"antonyms":[
"brain",
"genius"
],
"definitions":{
": a stupid or unimaginative person":[]
},
"examples":[
"The company is run by a bunch of dullards .",
"often mistaken for a dullard because he never said much in discussions",
"Recent Examples on the Web",
"Moreover, that dullard of a husband, Richard (the late Don Galloway, who later in life wrote a libertarian newspaper column), is the secret hero of the film. \u2014 Kyle Smith, National Review , 7 Apr. 2021",
"Perhaps, but like his dullard son-in-law who\u2019s trying to split the vote by putting a troubled rapper on the ballot, the president playing a song in recognizable Republican chords. \u2014 Adam Weinstein, The New Republic , 18 Aug. 2020",
"April 7, 2020 The same goes for clueless, kilt-wearing dullard Sidney (Tim Key); Amanda\u2019s aggressively insecure boyfriend, Chaz (Allan Mustafa); and the gabby, tactless Rebecca (Aisling Bea). \u2014 Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times , 10 Apr. 2020",
"Yet, the film waves off character development and merely side-eyes its frustrations with capitalism in its rush to convince us that this dullard is in fact a supervillain who is game to manipulate, maim and poison for a marble firepit. \u2014 Amy Nicholson, New York Times , 25 Mar. 2020",
"All the characters, from the callow manipulators to the well-meaning dullards , are awash in clich\u00e9. \u2014 Susanna Lee, The Conversation , 10 Jan. 2020",
"There are cheapskates galore, dissemblers, busybodies, dullards and charlatans. \u2014 A.e. Stallings, WSJ , 7 Dec. 2018",
"Usually the equal-weight S&P does better, as smaller members of the index outperform the dullards at the top. \u2014 James Mackintosh, WSJ , 14 June 2018",
"Fishes have long been dismissed as dullards , but new observations and studies are proving this assumption wrong. \u2014 Jonathan Balcombe, Scientific American , 1 May 2017"
],
"first_known_use":{
"15th century, in the meaning defined above":""
},
"history_and_etymology":{},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259-l\u0259rd"
],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"synonyms":[
"airhead",
"birdbrain",
"blockhead",
"bonehead",
"bubblehead",
"chowderhead",
"chucklehead",
"clodpoll",
"clodpole",
"clot",
"cluck",
"clunk",
"cretin",
"cuddy",
"cuddie",
"deadhead",
"dim bulb",
"dimwit",
"dip",
"dodo",
"dolt",
"donkey",
"doofus",
"dope",
"dork",
"dum-dum",
"dumbbell",
"dumbhead",
"dummkopf",
"dummy",
"dunce",
"dunderhead",
"fathead",
"gander",
"golem",
"goof",
"goon",
"half-wit",
"hammerhead",
"hardhead",
"idiot",
"ignoramus",
"imbecile",
"jackass",
"know-nothing",
"knucklehead",
"lamebrain",
"loggerhead",
"loon",
"lump",
"lunkhead",
"meathead",
"mome",
"moron",
"mug",
"mutt",
"natural",
"nimrod",
"nincompoop",
"ninny",
"ninnyhammer",
"nit",
"nitwit",
"noddy",
"noodle",
"numskull",
"numbskull",
"oaf",
"pinhead",
"prat",
"ratbag",
"saphead",
"schlub",
"shlub",
"schnook",
"simpleton",
"stock",
"stupe",
"stupid",
"thickhead",
"turkey",
"woodenhead",
"yahoo",
"yo-yo"
],
"time_of_retrieval":"20220707-043219",
"type":[
"noun"
]
},
"dulled":{
"antonyms":[
"benumb",
"blunt",
"cauterize",
"damp",
"dampen",
"deaden",
"numb"
],
"definitions":{
": cloudy":[
"dull weather"
],
": lacking brilliance or luster":[
"a dull finish"
],
": lacking in force, intensity, or sharpness":[
"a dull ache"
],
": lacking sharpness of edge or point":[
"a dull knife"
],
": lacking zest (see zest sense 2 ) or vivacity : listless":[
"a dull performance"
],
": low in saturation (see saturation sense 4a ) and low in lightness":[
"a dull green"
],
": mentally slow : stupid":[],
": not resonant or ringing":[
"a dull booming sound"
],
": slow in action : sluggish":[
"dull markets"
],
": slow in perception or sensibility : insensible":[
"somewhat dull of hearing",
"dull to what went on about her",
"\u2014 Willa Cather"
],
": tedious , uninteresting":[
"dull lectures"
],
": to become dull":[
"The blade dulled with use."
],
": to make dull":[
"dull a knife's edge"
]
},
"examples":[
"Adjective",
"the dull roar of the crowd",
"the dull knife just bounced off the skin of the tomato without cutting it",
"Verb",
"Fog dulled the morning sunlight.",
"Special earplugs dulled the sound of the chain saw.",
"His hair dulled as he aged.",
"The dog's eyes dulled as he got sick.",
"She takes medicine to dull the pain.",
"Fear dulled his need for adventure.",
"The knife was dulled from use.",
"The blade should be replaced as soon as it dulls .",
"Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective",
"Zinfandels tended to be heavy and dull , Pinot Noirs tasted like fruit bombs, Sauvignon Blancs like fruit punch and Rieslings were flabby. \u2014 John Mariani, Forbes , 17 June 2022",
"His choreography presents the Taylor company dancers, costumed by Clarion Overmoyer in dull , baggy two-piece outfits and socks, as drab and thanklessly challenged. \u2014 Robert Greskovic, WSJ , 17 June 2022",
"That shift in locale comes like a breath of fresh air after intermission, since Todd Rosenthal\u2019s set design for the eccentric storefront is way more fun to look at than all those dull wine bottles in the first half. \u2014 Chris Willman, Variety , 16 June 2022",
"Dust, sweat, lotion, food, and dirt can affect the way your watch band looks and dull or discolor the material. \u2014 Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens , 16 June 2022",
"The Suzani area rug livens up dull , lifeless rooms with its vibrant hues and decorative floral pattern. \u2014 Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure , 13 June 2022",
"Per Greg Prodromides, La Prairie\u2019s chief marketing officer, the product is best for those with skin that is fragile, thin, dry, rough and dull , and/or deficient in nutrients. \u2014 Lindy Segal, Harper's BAZAAR , 9 June 2022",
"Vitamin C is a brightening agent that can help your skin get out of a dull situation. \u2014 Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune , 7 June 2022",
"By the same token, in what can seem like a dull , gray, repressive situation \u2014 a place like New York in the 1960s, where gay people had been struggling for generations \u2014 Stonewall can happen. \u2014 Zan Romanoff, Los Angeles Times , 6 June 2022",
"Recent Examples on the Web: Verb",
"Smith said access was a prime reason why marginalized groups would seek to dull the pressures of the world through alcohol. \u2014 John-john Williams Iv, Baltimore Sun , 23 June 2022",
"France isn\u2019t the only country spending lavishly to dull the effects of the energy crisis. \u2014 Eric Sylvers, WSJ , 18 June 2022",
"Some of the political satire's bite has faded as our world has become more absurd and shocking, but that doesn't dull the sharpness of star Julia Louis-Dreyfus' performance in the HBO Emmy-favorite. \u2014 Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY , 16 June 2022",
"Higher interest rates tend to dull the allure of companies that are hoping to deliver big profits years down the line. \u2014 Akane Otani, WSJ , 20 May 2022",
"Vaccination appears to dull the subvariants' edge, however. \u2014 Beth Mole, Ars Technica , 2 May 2022",
"The point of the satire, so perfectly sharp in the initial confrontations \u2014 with White and Nakamura making a terrific comedy team \u2014 begins to dull as the emphasis shifts from verbal to physical humor. \u2014 New York Times , 27 Apr. 2022",
"Billy, who struggles with a mood disorder and was psychologically abused by his father, relies on escapist storytelling and alcohol to dull his pain. \u2014 Leah Tyler, ajc , 25 Apr. 2022",
"The ease with which some Russians are moving money via crypto doesn't necessarily dull the pain of sanctions since crypto remains niche and accessible to only a sliver of the population, Reynolds says. \u2014 Yvonne Lau, Fortune , 30 Mar. 2022"
],
"first_known_use":{
"13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7":"Adjective",
"13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense":"Verb"
},
"history_and_etymology":{
"Middle English dul ; akin to Old English dol foolish, Old Irish dall blind":"Adjective and Verb"
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259l"
],
"synonym_discussion":"Choose the Right Synonym for dull Adjective dull , blunt , obtuse mean not sharp, keen, or acute. dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency. a dull pain a dull mind blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception. a person of blunt sensibility obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination. too obtuse to take the hint synonyms see in addition stupid",
"synonyms":[
"blunt",
"blunted",
"dulled",
"obtuse"
],
"time_of_retrieval":"20220706-210711",
"type":[
"adjective",
"adverb",
"noun",
"verb"
]
},
"dullness":{
"antonyms":[
"benumb",
"blunt",
"cauterize",
"damp",
"dampen",
"deaden",
"numb"
],
"definitions":{
": cloudy":[
"dull weather"
],
": lacking brilliance or luster":[
"a dull finish"
],
": lacking in force, intensity, or sharpness":[
"a dull ache"
],
": lacking sharpness of edge or point":[
"a dull knife"
],
": lacking zest (see zest sense 2 ) or vivacity : listless":[
"a dull performance"
],
": low in saturation (see saturation sense 4a ) and low in lightness":[
"a dull green"
],
": mentally slow : stupid":[],
": not resonant or ringing":[
"a dull booming sound"
],
": slow in action : sluggish":[
"dull markets"
],
": slow in perception or sensibility : insensible":[
"somewhat dull of hearing",
"dull to what went on about her",
"\u2014 Willa Cather"
],
": tedious , uninteresting":[
"dull lectures"
],
": to become dull":[
"The blade dulled with use."
],
": to make dull":[
"dull a knife's edge"
]
},
"examples":[
"Adjective",
"the dull roar of the crowd",
"the dull knife just bounced off the skin of the tomato without cutting it",
"Verb",
"Fog dulled the morning sunlight.",
"Special earplugs dulled the sound of the chain saw.",
"His hair dulled as he aged.",
"The dog's eyes dulled as he got sick.",
"She takes medicine to dull the pain.",
"Fear dulled his need for adventure.",
"The knife was dulled from use.",
"The blade should be replaced as soon as it dulls .",
"Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective",
"Zinfandels tended to be heavy and dull , Pinot Noirs tasted like fruit bombs, Sauvignon Blancs like fruit punch and Rieslings were flabby. \u2014 John Mariani, Forbes , 17 June 2022",
"His choreography presents the Taylor company dancers, costumed by Clarion Overmoyer in dull , baggy two-piece outfits and socks, as drab and thanklessly challenged. \u2014 Robert Greskovic, WSJ , 17 June 2022",
"That shift in locale comes like a breath of fresh air after intermission, since Todd Rosenthal\u2019s set design for the eccentric storefront is way more fun to look at than all those dull wine bottles in the first half. \u2014 Chris Willman, Variety , 16 June 2022",
"Dust, sweat, lotion, food, and dirt can affect the way your watch band looks and dull or discolor the material. \u2014 Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens , 16 June 2022",
"The Suzani area rug livens up dull , lifeless rooms with its vibrant hues and decorative floral pattern. \u2014 Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure , 13 June 2022",
"Per Greg Prodromides, La Prairie\u2019s chief marketing officer, the product is best for those with skin that is fragile, thin, dry, rough and dull , and/or deficient in nutrients. \u2014 Lindy Segal, Harper's BAZAAR , 9 June 2022",
"Vitamin C is a brightening agent that can help your skin get out of a dull situation. \u2014 Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune , 7 June 2022",
"By the same token, in what can seem like a dull , gray, repressive situation \u2014 a place like New York in the 1960s, where gay people had been struggling for generations \u2014 Stonewall can happen. \u2014 Zan Romanoff, Los Angeles Times , 6 June 2022",
"Recent Examples on the Web: Verb",
"Smith said access was a prime reason why marginalized groups would seek to dull the pressures of the world through alcohol. \u2014 John-john Williams Iv, Baltimore Sun , 23 June 2022",
"France isn\u2019t the only country spending lavishly to dull the effects of the energy crisis. \u2014 Eric Sylvers, WSJ , 18 June 2022",
"Some of the political satire's bite has faded as our world has become more absurd and shocking, but that doesn't dull the sharpness of star Julia Louis-Dreyfus' performance in the HBO Emmy-favorite. \u2014 Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY , 16 June 2022",
"Higher interest rates tend to dull the allure of companies that are hoping to deliver big profits years down the line. \u2014 Akane Otani, WSJ , 20 May 2022",
"Vaccination appears to dull the subvariants' edge, however. \u2014 Beth Mole, Ars Technica , 2 May 2022",
"The point of the satire, so perfectly sharp in the initial confrontations \u2014 with White and Nakamura making a terrific comedy team \u2014 begins to dull as the emphasis shifts from verbal to physical humor. \u2014 New York Times , 27 Apr. 2022",
"Billy, who struggles with a mood disorder and was psychologically abused by his father, relies on escapist storytelling and alcohol to dull his pain. \u2014 Leah Tyler, ajc , 25 Apr. 2022",
"The ease with which some Russians are moving money via crypto doesn't necessarily dull the pain of sanctions since crypto remains niche and accessible to only a sliver of the population, Reynolds says. \u2014 Yvonne Lau, Fortune , 30 Mar. 2022"
],
"first_known_use":{
"13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7":"Adjective",
"13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense":"Verb"
},
"history_and_etymology":{
"Middle English dul ; akin to Old English dol foolish, Old Irish dall blind":"Adjective and Verb"
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259l"
],
"synonym_discussion":"Choose the Right Synonym for dull Adjective dull , blunt , obtuse mean not sharp, keen, or acute. dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency. a dull pain a dull mind blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception. a person of blunt sensibility obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination. too obtuse to take the hint synonyms see in addition stupid",
"synonyms":[
"blunt",
"blunted",
"dulled",
"obtuse"
],
"time_of_retrieval":"20220707-110147",
"type":[
"adjective",
"adverb",
"noun",
"verb"
]
},
"dullsville":{
"antonyms":[],
"definitions":{
": something or some place that is dull or boring":[
"the movie was dullsville"
]
},
"examples":[
"that book is totally dullsville \u2014you'll be asleep by page three",
"Recent Examples on the Web",
"Speaking of winds, attempting to surf off Galveston in the summertime is dullsville . \u2014 Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle , 16 Mar. 2020",
"Next, if things remain dullsville , Anton Blidh could draw into the lineup. \u2014 Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com , 16 Jan. 2020"
],
"first_known_use":{
"circa 1960, in the meaning defined above":""
},
"history_and_etymology":{},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259lz-\u02ccvil"
],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"synonyms":[
"bore",
"drag",
"drip",
"droner",
"nudnik",
"nudnick",
"snooze",
"snoozer",
"yawn",
"yawner"
],
"time_of_retrieval":"20220706-222956",
"type":[
"noun"
]
},
"dulness":{
"antonyms":[
"benumb",
"blunt",
"cauterize",
"damp",
"dampen",
"deaden",
"numb"
],
"definitions":{
": cloudy":[
"dull weather"
],
": lacking brilliance or luster":[
"a dull finish"
],
": lacking in force, intensity, or sharpness":[
"a dull ache"
],
": lacking sharpness of edge or point":[
"a dull knife"
],
": lacking zest (see zest sense 2 ) or vivacity : listless":[
"a dull performance"
],
": low in saturation (see saturation sense 4a ) and low in lightness":[
"a dull green"
],
": mentally slow : stupid":[],
": not resonant or ringing":[
"a dull booming sound"
],
": slow in action : sluggish":[
"dull markets"
],
": slow in perception or sensibility : insensible":[
"somewhat dull of hearing",
"dull to what went on about her",
"\u2014 Willa Cather"
],
": tedious , uninteresting":[
"dull lectures"
],
": to become dull":[
"The blade dulled with use."
],
": to make dull":[
"dull a knife's edge"
]
},
"examples":[
"Adjective",
"the dull roar of the crowd",
"the dull knife just bounced off the skin of the tomato without cutting it",
"Verb",
"Fog dulled the morning sunlight.",
"Special earplugs dulled the sound of the chain saw.",
"His hair dulled as he aged.",
"The dog's eyes dulled as he got sick.",
"She takes medicine to dull the pain.",
"Fear dulled his need for adventure.",
"The knife was dulled from use.",
"The blade should be replaced as soon as it dulls .",
"Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective",
"Zinfandels tended to be heavy and dull , Pinot Noirs tasted like fruit bombs, Sauvignon Blancs like fruit punch and Rieslings were flabby. \u2014 John Mariani, Forbes , 17 June 2022",
"His choreography presents the Taylor company dancers, costumed by Clarion Overmoyer in dull , baggy two-piece outfits and socks, as drab and thanklessly challenged. \u2014 Robert Greskovic, WSJ , 17 June 2022",
"That shift in locale comes like a breath of fresh air after intermission, since Todd Rosenthal\u2019s set design for the eccentric storefront is way more fun to look at than all those dull wine bottles in the first half. \u2014 Chris Willman, Variety , 16 June 2022",
"Dust, sweat, lotion, food, and dirt can affect the way your watch band looks and dull or discolor the material. \u2014 Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens , 16 June 2022",
"The Suzani area rug livens up dull , lifeless rooms with its vibrant hues and decorative floral pattern. \u2014 Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure , 13 June 2022",
"Per Greg Prodromides, La Prairie\u2019s chief marketing officer, the product is best for those with skin that is fragile, thin, dry, rough and dull , and/or deficient in nutrients. \u2014 Lindy Segal, Harper's BAZAAR , 9 June 2022",
"Vitamin C is a brightening agent that can help your skin get out of a dull situation. \u2014 Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune , 7 June 2022",
"By the same token, in what can seem like a dull , gray, repressive situation \u2014 a place like New York in the 1960s, where gay people had been struggling for generations \u2014 Stonewall can happen. \u2014 Zan Romanoff, Los Angeles Times , 6 June 2022",
"Recent Examples on the Web: Verb",
"Smith said access was a prime reason why marginalized groups would seek to dull the pressures of the world through alcohol. \u2014 John-john Williams Iv, Baltimore Sun , 23 June 2022",
"France isn\u2019t the only country spending lavishly to dull the effects of the energy crisis. \u2014 Eric Sylvers, WSJ , 18 June 2022",
"Some of the political satire's bite has faded as our world has become more absurd and shocking, but that doesn't dull the sharpness of star Julia Louis-Dreyfus' performance in the HBO Emmy-favorite. \u2014 Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY , 16 June 2022",
"Higher interest rates tend to dull the allure of companies that are hoping to deliver big profits years down the line. \u2014 Akane Otani, WSJ , 20 May 2022",
"Vaccination appears to dull the subvariants' edge, however. \u2014 Beth Mole, Ars Technica , 2 May 2022",
"The point of the satire, so perfectly sharp in the initial confrontations \u2014 with White and Nakamura making a terrific comedy team \u2014 begins to dull as the emphasis shifts from verbal to physical humor. \u2014 New York Times , 27 Apr. 2022",
"Billy, who struggles with a mood disorder and was psychologically abused by his father, relies on escapist storytelling and alcohol to dull his pain. \u2014 Leah Tyler, ajc , 25 Apr. 2022",
"The ease with which some Russians are moving money via crypto doesn't necessarily dull the pain of sanctions since crypto remains niche and accessible to only a sliver of the population, Reynolds says. \u2014 Yvonne Lau, Fortune , 30 Mar. 2022"
],
"first_known_use":{
"13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7":"Adjective",
"13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense":"Verb"
},
"history_and_etymology":{
"Middle English dul ; akin to Old English dol foolish, Old Irish dall blind":"Adjective and Verb"
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259l"
],
"synonym_discussion":"Choose the Right Synonym for dull Adjective dull , blunt , obtuse mean not sharp, keen, or acute. dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency. a dull pain a dull mind blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception. a person of blunt sensibility obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination. too obtuse to take the hint synonyms see in addition stupid",
"The singer duly appeared back on stage for an encore.",
"Recent Examples on the Web",
"Giuliani insisted Gill be arrested and the NYPD duly charged him with assault with intent to cause physical injury, harassment in the second degree, and menacing in the third degree. \u2014 Kevin Cullen, BostonGlobe.com , 28 June 2022",
"The spyware resulted in considerable damning audio and footage, duly incorporated here. \u2014 Dennis Harvey, Variety , 28 June 2022",
"Williams, known as the Wild Thing, is a folk hero to Phillies fans and duly honored in the Relief Room. \u2014 New York Times , 26 June 2022",
"To be duly recognized by Tony voters is another signal of the taste for the off-kilter this season. \u2014 Christopher Barnard, Vogue , 28 May 2022",
"Three fifths of the senators duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, the motion is not agreed to. \u2014 Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY , 12 May 2022",
"Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet's absence from the 2022 Met Gala was duly noted. \u2014 Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR , 3 May 2022",
"The builders of those homes were duly punished\u2013and their stocks were obliterated. \u2014 Michael Joseph, Fortune , 23 May 2022",
"Tindall visited the Dolphins earlier this month and was duly impressed. \u2014 Tim Reynolds, ajc , 30 Apr. 2022"
],
"history_and_etymology":{},
"first_known_use":{
"14th century, in the meaning defined above":""
},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220710-070243"
},
"Dulwich":{
"type":[
"geographical name"
],
"definitions":{
"a southeastern district of London, England, in the borough of Southwark":[]
},
"pronounciation":[
"-lich",
"\u02c8d\u0259-lij"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[],
"history_and_etymology":{},
"first_known_use":{},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220710-112021"
},
"dulcimer":{
"type":[
"noun"
],
"definitions":{
": a stringed instrument of trapezoidal shape played with light hammers held in the hands":[],
": an American folk instrument with three or four strings stretched over an elongate fretted sound box that is held on the lap and played by plucking or strumming":[]
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259l-s\u0259-m\u0259r"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[
"Recent Examples on the Web",
"Performers will include Rogues and Wenches, The Samhain Fire Dancers, hammered dulcimer player Kade Bissell, Midnight Sun Selkies, and more. \u2014 Anchorage Daily News , 21 Oct. 2021",
"Here\u2019s the mallet that makes her guitar chime like a dulcimer . \u2014 Washington Post , 15 Aug. 2021",
"Maybe that\u2019s why so many were composed on the three-string dulcimer : a nice, portable axe. \u2014 Los Angeles Times , 21 June 2021",
"Also featured: the world-renowned glaciologist Richard Alley, with his dulcimer -playing daughter, Karen, and the eminent Adirondack limnologist Curt Stager. \u2014 Bill Mckibben, The New Yorker , 24 Dec. 2020",
"The Girl with the Flaxen Hair between themselves, vocalist Alexander scraped a baby-blue hair pick along the strings of a dulcimer (a type of zither) and all three clacked hair straighteners and threw curlers at each other, among other actions. \u2014 Tim Diovanni, Dallas News , 20 Oct. 2020",
"Moore found himself in Naselroad's wood shop nearly every day learning how to craft guitars from Appalachian native hardwoods in a town where the mountain dulcimer was first made in the late 1800s. \u2014 Amy Chillag, CNN , 18 Sep. 2020",
"People sang for her and played fiddles and dulcimers ; one boy used knitting needles on the neck of his banjo. \u2014 Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine , 27 Apr. 2020",
"Roth came to the dulcimer as a kid, after playing piano. \u2014 John Adamian, courant.com , 29 Sep. 2019"
],
"history_and_etymology":{
"Middle English dowcemere , from Middle French doulcemer , from Old Italian dolcimelo , from dolce sweet, from Latin dulcis":""
},
"first_known_use":{
"1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1":""
},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220710-170215"
},
"dulcify":{
"type":[
"verb"
],
"definitions":{
": to make sweet":[],
": to make agreeable : mollify":[]
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259l-s\u0259-\u02ccf\u012b"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[],
"history_and_etymology":{
"Late Latin dulcificare , from Latin dulcis":""
},
"first_known_use":{
"1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1":""
},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220710-205305"
},
"Dulciana":{
"type":[
"noun"
],
"definitions":{
": a soft-toned organ flue stop having metal pipes of 4\u2032 pitch , 8\u2032 pitch, or 16\u2032 pitch":[]
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02ccd\u0259ls\u0113\u02c8an\u0259",
"-\u02c8\u00e4n\u0259"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[],
"history_and_etymology":{
"New Latin, from Medieval Latin, bassoon, from Latin dulcis + -ana (feminine singular of -anus -an)":""
},
"first_known_use":{},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220711-045827"
},
"Duluth":{
"type":[
"adjective or noun",
"geographical name"
],
"definitions":{
"city and port at the western end of Lake Superior, northeastern Minnesota population 86,265":[]
},
"pronounciation":[
"d\u0259-\u02c8l\u00fcth"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[],
"history_and_etymology":{},
"first_known_use":{},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220711-112442"
},
"dulse":{
"type":[
"noun"
],
"definitions":{
": any of several coarse red seaweeds (especially Palmaria palmata ) found especially in northern latitudes and used as a food condiment":[]
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259ls"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[
"Recent Examples on the Web",
"Next, at the beach, take a seaweed walk alongside seals and sea birds and learn how to traditionally harvest seaweed, rock samphire and pepper dulse . \u2014 Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian Magazine , 17 Feb. 2022",
"For the cabbage slaw Stir shredded cabbage with 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus the rice wine vinegar, sesame seeds and dulse . \u2014 Nick Marino, New York Times , 4 Mar. 2020",
"Toasted dulse , which has been called the bacon of the sea, goes in crumbles over everything. \u2014 Tamar Adler, Vogue , 15 Feb. 2019",
"There\u2019s a spread made from cabbage and dulse that approaches the experience of eating an extremely ripe cheese, then just keeps on going. \u2014 Devra First, BostonGlobe.com , 11 July 2018"
],
"history_and_etymology":{
"modification of Scottish Gaelic duileasg ; akin to Welsh delysg dulse":""
},
"first_known_use":{
"circa 1698, in the meaning defined above":""
},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220711-175541"
},
"dulling":{
"type":[
"adjective",
"adverb",
"noun",
"verb"
],
"definitions":{
": tedious , uninteresting":[
"dull lectures"
],
": lacking sharpness of edge or point":[
"a dull knife"
],
": not resonant or ringing":[
"a dull booming sound"
],
": lacking in force, intensity, or sharpness":[
"a dull ache"
],
": lacking brilliance or luster":[
"a dull finish"
],
": cloudy":[
"dull weather"
],
": low in saturation (see saturation sense 4a ) and low in lightness":[
"a dull green"
],
": mentally slow : stupid":[],
": slow in perception or sensibility : insensible":[
"somewhat dull of hearing",
"dull to what went on about her",
"\u2014 Willa Cather"
],
": lacking zest (see zest sense 2 ) or vivacity : listless":[
"a dull performance"
],
": slow in action : sluggish":[
"dull markets"
],
": to make dull":[
"dull a knife's edge"
],
": to become dull":[
"The blade dulled with use."
]
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259l"
],
"synonyms":[
"blunt",
"blunted",
"dulled",
"obtuse"
],
"antonyms":[
"benumb",
"blunt",
"cauterize",
"damp",
"dampen",
"deaden",
"numb"
],
"synonym_discussion":"Choose the Right Synonym for dull Adjective dull , blunt , obtuse mean not sharp, keen, or acute. dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency. a dull pain a dull mind blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception. a person of blunt sensibility obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination. too obtuse to take the hint synonyms see in addition stupid",
"examples":[
"Adjective",
"the dull roar of the crowd",
"the dull knife just bounced off the skin of the tomato without cutting it",
"Verb",
"Fog dulled the morning sunlight.",
"Special earplugs dulled the sound of the chain saw.",
"His hair dulled as he aged.",
"The dog's eyes dulled as he got sick.",
"She takes medicine to dull the pain.",
"Fear dulled his need for adventure.",
"The knife was dulled from use.",
"The blade should be replaced as soon as it dulls .",
"Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective",
"Tarte's Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer adds warmth and livens up a dull complexion, and the durable formula is made to last through sticky weather conditions. \u2014 Sarah Hoffmann, Allure , 30 June 2022",
"These sorts of waffling, dull sessions are typical following big moves. \u2014 Jon Markman, Forbes , 28 June 2022",
"The GIs washed the vehicles and equipment so Pasley and Stidham could paint them a dull green, covering the familiar desert tan. \u2014 Sig Christenson, San Antonio Express-News , 10 June 2022",
"The exodus is leaving behind empty streets and a silence that amplifies the dull thump of artillery exchanges just outside city limits. \u2014 Matthew Luxmoore, WSJ , 8 June 2022",
"Zinfandels tended to be heavy and dull , Pinot Noirs tasted like fruit bombs, Sauvignon Blancs like fruit punch and Rieslings were flabby. \u2014 John Mariani, Forbes , 17 June 2022",
"His choreography presents the Taylor company dancers, costumed by Clarion Overmoyer in dull , baggy two-piece outfits and socks, as drab and thanklessly challenged. \u2014 Robert Greskovic, WSJ , 17 June 2022",
"That shift in locale comes like a breath of fresh air after intermission, since Todd Rosenthal\u2019s set design for the eccentric storefront is way more fun to look at than all those dull wine bottles in the first half. \u2014 Chris Willman, Variety , 16 June 2022",
"Dust, sweat, lotion, food, and dirt can affect the way your watch band looks and dull or discolor the material. \u2014 Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens , 16 June 2022",
"Recent Examples on the Web: Verb",
"But by week two or three, the luster on these items may be starting to dull , thanks to little fingers, water spots, grease splatters and just plain old wear and tear. \u2014 Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping , 29 June 2022",
"Resist the temptation of turning to drinking, drugs, overeating and other bad habits to dull the pain. \u2014 Jack Kelly, Forbes , 26 June 2022",
"Like knives, the blade will dull over time; unlike knives, sharpening isn\u2019t an option. \u2014 Bon App\u00e9tit , 23 May 2022",
"Its knobbier tires may dull its ultimate dynamic performance a bit, but the wide-ranging enhancements made to the entire Grand Cherokee lineup ensure that its on-road manners and general civility are thoroughly agreeable. \u2014 Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver , 9 May 2022",
"Bask in the glow because, as San Diego so painfully knows, seasons can dull in an instant. \u2014 Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune , 10 Apr. 2022",
"Smith said access was a prime reason why marginalized groups would seek to dull the pressures of the world through alcohol. \u2014 John-john Williams Iv, Baltimore Sun , 23 June 2022",
"France isn\u2019t the only country spending lavishly to dull the effects of the energy crisis. \u2014 Eric Sylvers, WSJ , 18 June 2022",
"Some of the political satire's bite has faded as our world has become more absurd and shocking, but that doesn't dull the sharpness of star Julia Louis-Dreyfus' performance in the HBO Emmy-favorite. \u2014 Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY , 16 June 2022"
],
"history_and_etymology":{
"Middle English dul ; akin to Old English dol foolish, Old Irish dall blind":"Adjective and Verb"
},
"first_known_use":{
"13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7":"Adjective",
"13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense":"Verb"
},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220711-202846"
},
"dull-witted":{
"type":[
"adjective",
"adverb",
"noun"
],
"definitions":{
": mentally slow : dim-witted":[
"He tried to teach her how to pronounce his last name with a French twirl, and when her tongue could not master it he accused her of being dull-witted .",
"\u2014 James A. Michener",
"Theirs was the perennial problem of quick-witted subjects under the governance of dull-witted administrators.",
"\u2014 Declan Kiberd"
]
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259l-\u02c8wi-t\u0259d"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[],
"history_and_etymology":{},
"first_known_use":{
"14th century, in the meaning defined above":""
},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220711-210433"
},
"dult":{
"type":[
"noun"
],
"definitions":{
": dolt , dunce":[]
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259lt"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[],
"history_and_etymology":{
"dult alteration of dolt; dultie from dult + -ie":""
},
"first_known_use":{},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220711-211102"
},
"dulia":{
"type":[
"noun"
],
"definitions":{
": veneration or respect paid to the saints and angels as the servants and friends of God \u2014 compare latria":[]
},
"pronounciation":[
"d(y)\u00fc\u02c8l\u012b\u0259"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[],
"history_and_etymology":{
"Medieval Latin, from Late Greek douleia service, work done, business, from Greek, slavery, from doulos slave (probably of non-Indo-European origin) + -eia -y":""
},
"first_known_use":{},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220712-010303"
},
"dulcin":{
"type":[
"noun"
],
"definitions":{
": a crystalline compound C 9 H 12 N 2 O 2 formerly used as a sweetening agent but now identified as a possible carcinogen":[]
},
"pronounciation":[
"\u02c8d\u0259ls\u0259\u0307n"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[],
"history_and_etymology":{},
"first_known_use":{},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220712-021032"
},
"dulosis":{
"type":[
"adjective",
"noun"
],
"definitions":{
": enslavement by an insect (as some ants of the genera Formica and Polyergus ) that captures and rears the larvae or pupae of another species":[]
},
"pronounciation":[
"d(y)\u00fc\u02c8l\u014ds\u0259\u0307s"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[],
"history_and_etymology":{
"New Latin, from Greek doul\u014dsis slavery, from douloun to enslave (from doulos slave) + -sis":""
},
"first_known_use":{},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220712-105249"
},
"dulcinea":{
"type":[
"noun"
],
"definitions":{
": mistress , sweetheart":[]
},
"pronounciation":[
"-\u02c8si-n\u0113-\u0259",
"\u02ccd\u0259l-s\u0259-\u02c8n\u0113-\u0259"
],
"synonyms":[],
"antonyms":[],
"synonym_discussion":"",
"examples":[],
"history_and_etymology":{
"Spanish, from Dulcinea del Toboso, beloved of Don Quixote":""
},
"first_known_use":{
"1748, in the meaning defined above":""
},
"time_of_retrieval":"20220712-163246"
},
"dulcitone":{
"type":[
"noun"
],
"definitions":{
": a keyboard instrument similar to the celesta in which hammers strike a set of tuning forks for sound production":[]
