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
The Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle takes it one step further, creating a paddle brush that’s delicate enough for thinning and damaged strands.
—
Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
In addition, mid-level positions are vulnerable as organizations flatten, thinning middle management ranks.
—Ulrik Juul Christensen, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Alsek Glacier is just one example showing how glaciers are thinning.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 14 Sep. 2025
In a nearby plot, natural self-thinning over 80 years reduced crowding from 275 to 70 trees per acre.
—John P. O’Brien, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Water is rapidly replacing ice along the coastal plain of southeastern Alaska, where glaciers are thinning and retreating, with meltwater forming lakes off of their fronts, NASA says.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Pruning, thinning fruit, and watering during dry spells are key to good fruit production.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025
Deficiency symptoms may include thinning hair, skin rashes, or brittle nails.
—Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025
On a different note, there could have been some challenges in your social life, such as thinning out friends or neighbors or taking on more responsibility in relation to a sibling.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
In addition, mid-level positions are vulnerable as organizations flatten, thinning middle management ranks.
—Ulrik Juul Christensen, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Alsek Glacier is just one example showing how glaciers are thinning.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 14 Sep. 2025
In a nearby plot, natural self-thinning over 80 years reduced crowding from 275 to 70 trees per acre.
—John P. O’Brien, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Water is rapidly replacing ice along the coastal plain of southeastern Alaska, where glaciers are thinning and retreating, with meltwater forming lakes off of their fronts, NASA says.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Pruning, thinning fruit, and watering during dry spells are key to good fruit production.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025
Deficiency symptoms may include thinning hair, skin rashes, or brittle nails.
—Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025
On a different note, there could have been some challenges in your social life, such as thinning out friends or neighbors or taking on more responsibility in relation to a sibling.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thinning
Verb
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Medrano’s editorial eye—born from her archive of Players magazines—lingers on sensuality’s softness without diluting its danger.—
Skylar Mitchell,
Essence,
16 Sep. 2025
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Some of the erosion of credibility, young American Jews across the country tell me, stems from those who insist all criticism of Israel is antisemitic, diluting the term's power.—
Andrew Weinstein,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Spend some time worrying about that thing that’s actually quite meaningless, getting mad at that person cutting me off in traffic?—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
13 Sep. 2025
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Marinaccio is cutting it Marinaccio made his big-league debut with the Yankees in 2022 and between June and July of that did not allow a hit to 57 consecutive batters.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In digital services, apply the same scrutiny to login friction, loading messages, or chatbot delays.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Masters says that taking care of small chores, such as taking out the trash, loading the dishwasher, and emptying the fridge of your own food, shows respect for the host, their belongings, and their home.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then the hurricane continued on a more northward path around the islands and finally began weakening after powerful 145 mph winds tapered off.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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Total job growth was revised lower by the largest amount in history, The revisions erased 911 thousand jobs over the full year period, adding to mounting concerns of a weakening labor market and fueling questions as to the reliability of monthly data being used to gauge employment.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thinning. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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