thinner; thinnest
1
a
: having little extent from one surface to its opposite
thin paper
b
: measuring little in cross section or diameter
thin rope
2
: not dense in arrangement or distribution
thin hair
3
: not well fleshed : lean
4
6
a
: flimsy, unconvincing
a thin disguise
b
: disappointingly poor or hard
had a thin time of it
7
: somewhat feeble, shrill, and lacking in resonance
a thin voice
8
: lacking in intensity or brilliance
thin light
9
: lacking sufficient photographic density or contrast
see also:
thinned; thinning
Synonyms of thin
Examples of thin in a Sentence
Adjective
a thin coating of dust
pizza with a thin crust
a thin slice of ham
a thin stand of trees
Verb
He added a little more water to thin the gravy.
The haze thinned in the late afternoon.
His face has been thinned by illness.
Adverb
She sliced the cheese thin.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2026
In Orlando, the wait time was approaching an hour, while at JFK airport in New York, travelers faced a wait of over half an hour — early signs of a weekend rush colliding with thin staffing.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Turn the heat to medium and toss well to coat the pasta, adding up to ¼ cup of the pasta water to thin it out a bit if necessary.
—Demi Lovato, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Jacob Ware, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
Absent more predictable trends, law enforcement will be spread thin, asked to protect an impossible array of locations across the country against an impossible diversity of threats.
—Jacob Ware, Boston Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for thin
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Adjective
The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2026
In Orlando, the wait time was approaching an hour, while at JFK airport in New York, travelers faced a wait of over half an hour — early signs of a weekend rush colliding with thin staffing.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
Lines for films eased and the number of brand activations thinned, but celebrities were still circulating — Leslie Mann and Maude Apatow grabbed Terry Black’s on Wednesday.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Turn the heat to medium and toss well to coat the pasta, adding up to ¼ cup of the pasta water to thin it out a bit if necessary.
—Demi Lovato, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Adverb
Absent more predictable trends, law enforcement will be spread thin, asked to protect an impossible array of locations across the country against an impossible diversity of threats.
—Jacob Ware, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
Absent more predictable trends, law enforcement will be spread thin, asked to protect an impossible array of locations across the country against an impossible diversity of threats.
—Jacob Ware, Boston Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for thin
Cite this Entry
“Thin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thin. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thin
1 of 2 adjective
thinner; thinnest
1
: having little extent from one surface to its opposite
thin paper
2
: having widely scattered units
thin hair
3
: having too little flesh
a tall thin boy
4
: less dense than normal
thin air
5
: lacking substance or strength
thin broth
thin excuses
6
: somewhat weak or shrill
a thin voice
thinly
adverb
thin
2 of 2 verb
thinned; thinning
1
: to make or become thin
2
: to reduce in number especially to prevent crowding
thin young carrots in the garden
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