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
My body was breaking down, thinning from seventy-three kilos to a fragile sixty, losing not only strength but the essential nutrients Lya needed from my milk.
—
Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
The groom—short and burly, with thinning dark hair and eyes like coal—was weeks from his fortieth birthday.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Reduced saliva production and thinning mouth tissue are common issues for perimenopausal and menopausal women.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 20 Oct. 2025
Build strategy on a shrinking labor base and a thinning middle class, and even the smartest models will optimize you into a smaller future.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
People taking blood-thinning medications should exercise caution when consuming large amounts of ginger juice (or when combined with carrot juice).
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2025
Around the house or farm, the USDA says habitat modifications can help prevent ticks, including mowing the grass, removing trees, reducing shade by thinning trees and placing mulch barriers.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
The wheeled pole with all his blood-thinning medicines is Broccoli, and his heart pump — or VAD — is named Henry, after his favorite Thomas the Tank Engine character.
—Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
The Sabres’ waiting to get this deal done hasn’t helped, because not only is the market climbing, but also the 2026 free-agent class is thinning out.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
The groom—short and burly, with thinning dark hair and eyes like coal—was weeks from his fortieth birthday.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Reduced saliva production and thinning mouth tissue are common issues for perimenopausal and menopausal women.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 20 Oct. 2025
Build strategy on a shrinking labor base and a thinning middle class, and even the smartest models will optimize you into a smaller future.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
People taking blood-thinning medications should exercise caution when consuming large amounts of ginger juice (or when combined with carrot juice).
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2025
Around the house or farm, the USDA says habitat modifications can help prevent ticks, including mowing the grass, removing trees, reducing shade by thinning trees and placing mulch barriers.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
The wheeled pole with all his blood-thinning medicines is Broccoli, and his heart pump — or VAD — is named Henry, after his favorite Thomas the Tank Engine character.
—Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
The Sabres’ waiting to get this deal done hasn’t helped, because not only is the market climbing, but also the 2026 free-agent class is thinning out.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thinning
Verb
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Far from cheapening or diluting Ibsen’s themes and conflicts, the action revitalizes them.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
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The question here might be whether Netflix risks diluting its brand by adding cheaper, less cinematic content to the mix.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Walz drew a surge of media attention and prompted popular X posts on the campaign trail for cutting a rootsy profile like her father.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
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In cutting those moments, Baxter used the score to track the temperature of his edit, especially as the second chapter begins.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After Oracle 's huge $18 billion bond sale last month, the market has become a little more wary of AI companies loading up on debt to spend on AI.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
22 Oct. 2025
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This time, Wilson activated his bullpen as Castillo waded through the next four batters, loading the bases for lefty Daulton Varsho.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Washington — The Federal Reserve was already facing one of its most difficult battles, steering a shifting economy through a weakening labor market and stubborn inflation.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
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Far from expanding opportunity, this excessive wealth locks millions out of the chance to innovate and build, weakening growth for all.—
Scott Ellis,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thinning. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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