1
as in diluted
not containing very much of some important element
a dilute acid that's safe to handle in the classroom
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polluted
containing foreign or lower-grade substances
a dilute solution of ammonia
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to pollute
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
the pharmacist was convicted of diluting prescription drugs in order to increase profits
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dilute
Carolyln Wilke, sacbee, 30 June 2017
A dilute sample is when a player drinks so much water, the urine test administered is ineffective because of the excess water consumption.
—Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com, 16 May 2017
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
That way, the state’s substantial liberal voting base gets diluted among a platoon of Democratic hopefuls, pushing the two conservatives into the November runoff.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dilute
Adjective
Of the plants previously watered with very dilute vinegar, 70 percent survived while almost none of those that were given other acids or only water did.
—Carolyln Wilke, sacbee, 30 June 2017
A dilute sample is when a player drinks so much water, the urine test administered is ineffective because of the excess water consumption.
—Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com, 16 May 2017
Verb
Swalwell’s downfall might even show that, if old-school journalism can still mete out consequences for bad behavior, new media can sometimes accelerate this process, rather than dilute it.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
That way, the state’s substantial liberal voting base gets diluted among a platoon of Democratic hopefuls, pushing the two conservatives into the November runoff.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dilute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilute
Adjective
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Kondrat also recommends using diluted fertilizer throughout an orchid’s life, not just when starting a new plant.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Apr. 2026
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Spray the area with the diluted vinegar and water mixture, and wipe it clean with a damp cloth to remove any residue.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Such assurances are unlikely to quell the community’s decades-long experience with polluted runoff, however, and small farmers say that runoff could also present a food safety problem and threaten to set back years of organic farming practices.—
Thomas Heaton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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State officials issued islandwide brown water advisories for Oahu and Maui after storms sent polluted runoff into coastal waters.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The idea was to reduce emissions contributing to global warming while simultaneously replacing those polluting sources with clean technologies like wind and solar power.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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There is no remediation if the waters in it are polluted by copper sulfide and nickel mining.—
Mary Murphy,
Twin Cities,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Every few years, replenish spots that look thin and get a lot of traffic.—
Elizabeth Jardina,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Apr. 2026
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The handles are weighted and ergonomic without being bulky, and the heads are thin enough to actually get under food—like a delicate omelet—which is a genuine problem with thicker silicone spatulas.—
Jamie Thilman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The newscast cut the bodycam footage after his entry to protect her identity, but Vogel proudly said there was no cause for concern.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
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In April 2009, a unanimous council — including first-year member Todd Gloria — embraced Sanders’ plan to impose a 6% cut in pay and benefits for city workers, cutting the shortfall in half.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Jovanni periodically while Daniels followed instructions on cleaning, handwashing and keeping Jovanni away from contaminated dirt.—
Chris Bowling,
ProPublica,
15 Apr. 2026
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People most at risk of health issues from PFAS include young children, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, those who live in contaminated areas, or people — like firefighters or chemical manufacturers — who are exposed to PFAS on the job.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Every time a middle-class family is forced to drain its wealth or pull back on discretionary spending just to absorb the logistical cost of a geopolitical crisis, the entire economy weakens.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
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But an industry post from commercial real estate analytics firm CoStar cites geopolitical conflict and high ticket prices for weakening demand and hotelier optimism.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The latest real estate report from Jones Lang LaSalle for the first quarter of the year painted a mixed picture.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
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San Francisco's iconic Fisherman's Wharf, which draws tourists from around the globe, has been garnering some mixed reactions from visitors.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dilute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilute. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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