There is a notable distinction in modern usage, particularly in groups like the "Dull Men’s Club," where members embrace being "dull" (having mundane or unexciting hobbies) but object to being called "dullards," which they interpret strictly as an insult to one's intellect.
It is primarily an old-fashioned insult for a "stupid" or "dumb" person. dullard
The term dates back to the Middle English period (c. 1440) and is formed by combining "dull" with the pejorative suffix "-ard". Common Synonyms There is a notable distinction in modern usage,