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
For someone dealing with thinning hair and navigating long workdays, the staying power described here is a practical advantage worth noting.
—
Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
His livestock and the drought were a double whammy on the fragile vegetation, thinning it out to untenable levels.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The conditioner is packed with panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) and lightweight hydrators like coconut and safflower seed oils, delivering moisture for thinning hair without adding unnecessary weight.
—Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
In this new, broader stereotype of the perimenopausal woman, symptoms are expanded beyond mood changes to weight gain, decreased libido, dry skin, and thinning hair.
—Patricia Bencivenga, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
Austin and Kapoor encourage trying different hairstyles to make hair look fuller or hide thinning spots along the hairline, if desired.
—Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world's busiest travel hubs, security lines seemed to be thinning out on Tuesday morning compared to Monday, when lines stretched out terminal doors.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
The man was probably in his late ‘50s, thinning hair, glasses.
—Kevin Sherrington
mar. 23, Dallas Morning News, 23 Mar. 2026
The way its branches twist against the gray morning sky, its thinning canopy of leaves sheer like lace.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
His livestock and the drought were a double whammy on the fragile vegetation, thinning it out to untenable levels.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The conditioner is packed with panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) and lightweight hydrators like coconut and safflower seed oils, delivering moisture for thinning hair without adding unnecessary weight.
—Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
In this new, broader stereotype of the perimenopausal woman, symptoms are expanded beyond mood changes to weight gain, decreased libido, dry skin, and thinning hair.
—Patricia Bencivenga, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
Austin and Kapoor encourage trying different hairstyles to make hair look fuller or hide thinning spots along the hairline, if desired.
—Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world's busiest travel hubs, security lines seemed to be thinning out on Tuesday morning compared to Monday, when lines stretched out terminal doors.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
The man was probably in his late ‘50s, thinning hair, glasses.
—Kevin Sherrington
mar. 23, Dallas Morning News, 23 Mar. 2026
The way its branches twist against the gray morning sky, its thinning canopy of leaves sheer like lace.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thinning
Verb
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However, hyponatremia, a condition that results from drinking too much water and effectively diluting the sodium content of your blood, can actually be far more dangerous.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
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The challenge lies in tailoring your tone without diluting the mission or fragmenting the brand.—
Rolling Stone Culture Council,
Rolling Stone,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Virginia made one last push, cutting TCU’s lead to 65-55, but the Horned Frogs quickly delivered the knockout blow as Miles knocked down a 3 and Suarez hit sophomore center Clara Silva for a layup to end Virginia’s hopes of another upset.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
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Huston’s come a long way from cutting hair near 87th Street and Wornall Road.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Earlier, officers were seen loading several people into a vehicle along the same stretch of street.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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On Wednesday, a jury in California determined that Meta and YouTube were responsible for loading their social media platforms with addictive features that harmed the mental health of a minor.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Seniors are the most reliable midterm voters in the country, and with the 2026 elections approaching and affordability already their top concern, weakening this program is a risk Republicans should not be taking.—
Joe Hardy,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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However, rejecting the goal of citizenship verification altogether risks weakening public confidence in the system.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thinning. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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