The difference between Dull and Lackluster

When used as adjectives, dull means lacking the ability to cut easily, whereas lackluster means lacking brilliance or intelligence.


Dull is also verb with the meaning: to render dull.

Lackluster is also noun with the meaning: lack of brightness or points of interest.

check bellow for the other definitions of Dull and Lackluster

  1. Dull as an adjective:

    Lacking the ability to cut easily; not sharp.

    Examples:

    "All these knives are dull."

  2. Dull as an adjective:

    Boring; not exciting or interesting.

    Examples:

    "He sat through the dull lecture and barely stayed awake."

    "When does having a dull personality ever get you a girlfriend? Even if you get one, how does being dull help you keep a relationship for over a year?"

  3. Dull as an adjective:

    Not shiny; having a matte finish or no particular luster or brightness.

    Examples:

    "Choose a dull finish to hide fingerprints."

    "a dull fire or lamp;  a dull red or yellow;  nowrap a dull mirror"

  4. Dull as an adjective:

    Not bright or intelligent; stupid; slow of understanding.

  5. Dull as an adjective:

    Sluggish, listless.

  6. Dull as an adjective:

    Cloudy, overcast.

    Examples:

    "It's a dull day."

  7. Dull as an adjective:

    Insensible; unfeeling.

  8. Dull as an adjective:

    Heavy; lifeless; inert.

  9. Dull as an adjective (of pain etc):

    Not intense; felt indistinctly or only slightly.

    Examples:

    "Pressing on the bruise produces a dull pain."

  10. Dull as an adjective:

    Not clear, muffled.

  1. Dull as a verb (transitive):

    To render dull; to remove or blunt an edge or something that was sharp.

    Examples:

    "Years of misuse have dulled the tools."

  2. Dull as a verb (transitive):

    To soften, moderate or blunt; to make dull, stupid, or sluggish; to stupefy.

    Examples:

    "He drinks to dull the pain."

  3. Dull as a verb (intransitive):

    To lose a sharp edge; to become dull.

    Examples:

    "A razor will dull with use."

  4. Dull as a verb:

    To render dim or obscure; to sully; to tarnish.

  1. Lackluster as an adjective:

    Lacking brilliance or intelligence.

  2. Lackluster as an adjective:

    Having no shine or lustre; dull.

  3. Lackluster as an adjective:

    Not exceptional; not worthy of special merit, attention, or interest; having no vitality.

    Examples:

    "The actor gave a lackluster performance in his latest film."

  1. Lackluster as a noun (uncountable):

    Lack of brightness or points of interest.

  2. Lackluster as a noun (countable):

    A person or thing of no particular brilliance or intelligence.

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