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
Restoration crews are expected to begin thinning overgrown vegetation and restoring native trees ahead of wildfire season this spring and summer.
—
Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
Focus on thinning branches, removing dead wood, and shaping the tree to allow more light and air inside.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 3 May 2026
The conflict in the Middle East has forced the US to divert some of its most critical military assets away from Asia, thinning its deterrence posture in a region where China is increasingly asserting its power and maintains ambitions toward Taiwan.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The American Hair Loss Association says two-thirds of American men will experience hair thinning by their mid-30s, and 85% will experience significant hair loss by 50.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
For hobbyists who love filling every inch of a bed, thinning seedlings can feel ruthless.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
One possible side effect of taking GLP-1 drugs is hair thinning.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Apr. 2026
By thinning crowded seedlings, giving roots room to grow, and easing plants gradually into outdoor conditions, gardeners can help reduce stress and build resilience.
—Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
But my longtime pals, baby boomers all, are thinning out.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
Focus on thinning branches, removing dead wood, and shaping the tree to allow more light and air inside.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 3 May 2026
The conflict in the Middle East has forced the US to divert some of its most critical military assets away from Asia, thinning its deterrence posture in a region where China is increasingly asserting its power and maintains ambitions toward Taiwan.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The American Hair Loss Association says two-thirds of American men will experience hair thinning by their mid-30s, and 85% will experience significant hair loss by 50.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
For hobbyists who love filling every inch of a bed, thinning seedlings can feel ruthless.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
One possible side effect of taking GLP-1 drugs is hair thinning.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Apr. 2026
By thinning crowded seedlings, giving roots room to grow, and easing plants gradually into outdoor conditions, gardeners can help reduce stress and build resilience.
—Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
But my longtime pals, baby boomers all, are thinning out.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thinning
Verb
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Founders have praised the tool for its ability to scale personalized service, such as digital styling conversations, without diluting the brand identity.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
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The ruling stems from a long-running redistricting dispute over Alabama’s congressional map, which lower courts had previously found likely violated voting rights protections by diluting black voting strength.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The back-to-back debates offered plenty of cutting moments as Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Nithya Raman and reality television star Spencer Pratt faced off against each other.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
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Porter focused on cutting bureaucracy, calling for a single statewide development permit to streamline approvals and reduce delays.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The pads typically have 15 vans loading up packages every 20 minutes, though the number more than doubles around the holiday season.—
Talia McWright,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
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That includes moving baggage, loading cargo and assisting with equipment.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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No ‘victory image’ for Tehran Ruhe similarly argued that Israel wants to avoid any agreement that restores legitimacy to the Iranian regime without fundamentally weakening it.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
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Forecasters say geomagnetic activity is gradually weakening, but lingering disturbances in Earth's magnetic field could still spark visible displays overnight, particularly in northern regions.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thinning. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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