dully

adverb

Definition of dullynext
1
as in dimly

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in sluggishly

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dully Yikes, this finale fell as flat and dully as Janet’s solo cup hit Danny’s head. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 30 July 2026 His audiences stare back at him, dully hostile. — Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 14 May 2026 As a result, unlike what his name would suggest, Unique is a fairly generic loner who dully seeks vengeance. — Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026 For a dully cynical take on the OnlyFans economy, there’s Euphoria, but for a more affirming consideration, Margo is well worth the subscription. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026 If people in the old days really talked so slowly and dully, more would have died of boredom than of disease. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dully
  1. dimly
  2. sluggishly
  3. obscurely
  4. lazily
  5. somberly
  6. lethargically
  7. idly
  8. halfheartedly
Adverb
  • The room is dimly lighted but for yellow and red string lights that produce radiant, shimmying splotches on the concrete floor.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • As police followed the vehicles, both drivers turned onto Reamy Drive, a narrow and dimly lit dead-end street.
    — Kendra Mann, Baltimore Sun, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of dimly
Adverb
  • Current leaks through transistors that should be switched off, and electrons move more sluggishly through channels only a few atoms thick.
    — Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The fish looks straight at me, flopping sluggishly from side to side.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of sluggishly
Adverb
  • The fantasy of a cultural architecture that’s as flexible as culture itself has been kicking around for more than 100 years, and there’s something obscurely disappointing about seeing a technocratic version get put into practice.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 29 July 2026
  • This is the year that the Bob Baker Marionettes — whose hipster cred and general renown increased when the theater moved to Highland Park from its longtime home tucked obscurely west of downtown — played Coachella.
    — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of obscurely
Adverb
  • Demis Hassabis has made the same point more bluntly, cautioning that using AI lazily can actually make people worse at critical thinking.
    — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Roamer rolled lazily in the light swell that was coming in from the open lake, and our rod tips dipped and rose, but nobody got a strike.
    — JAMES D. OXLEY, Outdoor Life, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of lazily
Adverb
  • James Hoffa, his sister Barbara, their adult children and grandchildren somberly mark this day with each passing year.
    — Eric Shawn, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
  • Nantz somberly delivered the emotional news while taking several breaks to compose himself.
    — Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Definition of somberly
Adverb
  • Auger-Aliassime was moving lethargically, not showing a lot of energy, dumping water on his head during changeovers to cool down.
    — Lukas Weese, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Cells divide lethargically, which slows the closing of cuts and healing of bruises.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Definition of lethargically
Adverb
  • Now is the time for advocacy, and no one can afford to sit idly by.
    — Taryn Palumbo, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Many spent the hours of downtime chatting about the case; others read books or idly gazed out the lofty courthouse windows.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of idly
Adverb
  • When Oscar halfheartedly tries to throw a ball into one of the set’s prop cubes and improbably makes the shot, the whole set goes joyously nuts, with the performers leaping up to embrace him and cavort around him.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The show’s interests are theoretically in a nuclear family gradually coming back together, though even that theme is halfheartedly pursued.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of halfheartedly

Browse Nearby Words

dullsvilles
dully
duly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dully. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All