as in diluting
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
thinned the cream with milk but didn't tell anyone
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Recent Examples of thinning
Clover tends to pop up in areas where the lawn is thinning or brown and attracts pollinators like bees.
—
David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 6 June 2026
For one, the event was sparsely attended, highlighting the dearth of foreign visitors and the thinning ranks of bankers, executives, and investors in the city.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 4 June 2026
Lawns with just a few bare patches or a thinning stand can be overseeded to fill in the gaps.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
As Wiley entered menopause and experienced the hot flashes, hair-thinning, and other physical symptoms that come with it, her straightening treatment—once a moment for pampering—became an exhausting chore.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 29 May 2026
Aspirin can help prevent blood clots by thinning the blood.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 25 May 2026
Weight gain, thinning hair, and other issues are things that happen with aging.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 23 May 2026
With Wharton’s recent surgery and Brooks’ injury history, the Panthers are likely to be cautious about thinning the roster at their respective positions.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 18 May 2026
Under the thinning clouds, the Gulf was like a fogged mirror.
—Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 6 June 2026
For one, the event was sparsely attended, highlighting the dearth of foreign visitors and the thinning ranks of bankers, executives, and investors in the city.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 4 June 2026
Lawns with just a few bare patches or a thinning stand can be overseeded to fill in the gaps.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
As Wiley entered menopause and experienced the hot flashes, hair-thinning, and other physical symptoms that come with it, her straightening treatment—once a moment for pampering—became an exhausting chore.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 29 May 2026
Aspirin can help prevent blood clots by thinning the blood.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 25 May 2026
Weight gain, thinning hair, and other issues are things that happen with aging.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 23 May 2026
With Wharton’s recent surgery and Brooks’ injury history, the Panthers are likely to be cautious about thinning the roster at their respective positions.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 18 May 2026
Under the thinning clouds, the Gulf was like a fogged mirror.
—Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thinning
Verb
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In his letter, Markey said using surplus plutonium to produce energy would be significantly more expensive than diluting and disposing of it — the method the federal government was previously using to deal with the waste.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
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Last quarter , the narrative against Palo Alto Networks was all its dealmaking was diluting earnings too much.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Verb
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There is also more cutting required of bloomed flowers to initiate another flush, and more cleaning up and cutting secondary branches in spring.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
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Barr rightly notes that current capital standards were already near the low end of what academic research identifies as optimal; cutting further tips the balance toward fragility, not strength.—
Mayra Rodriguez Valladares,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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On Friday, agents observed a man loading heavy items into a van outside the store and then driving to a nearby mechanic’s shop.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
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After loading the bases with no outs in the first inning Monday, two strikeouts followed.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
Verb
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In conclusion, autonomous AI risks undermining the essential human spirit of science and weakening its role as an arbiter of social conflicts.—
Mohammad Hosseini,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2026
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Critics argue the measures risk worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis on the island without meaningfully weakening the government.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thinning. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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