as in dilutes
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of thins
Instead a galaxy’s distribution of stars thins out farther from the center.
—
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
Refilling the rotation thins out the bullpen, which usually has to cover more innings after lesser starters, and all of those daily workload decisions compound.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 20 May 2026
In a traditional Japanese handle, a wa-style handle, the tang thins out into a strip of metal that’s completely buried in a cylindrical or octagonal wood handle.
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
Steam thins mucus and eases congestion, per the same PMC/NIH trial.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Over time, the canopy thins, the leaves crinkle, and the tree slowly dies.
—Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
When pothos stems become too long, the plant thins out.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 14 Apr. 2026
From there, Sharrow thins down its propeller to precise specification with a five-axis CNC machine and polishes it.
—New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2026
The Rangers will need to carry Baumler on the major league roster for the entire season, or send him back to the Baltimore Orioles, which thins some of their flexibility.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
Refilling the rotation thins out the bullpen, which usually has to cover more innings after lesser starters, and all of those daily workload decisions compound.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 20 May 2026
In a traditional Japanese handle, a wa-style handle, the tang thins out into a strip of metal that’s completely buried in a cylindrical or octagonal wood handle.
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
Steam thins mucus and eases congestion, per the same PMC/NIH trial.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Over time, the canopy thins, the leaves crinkle, and the tree slowly dies.
—Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
When pothos stems become too long, the plant thins out.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 14 Apr. 2026
From there, Sharrow thins down its propeller to precise specification with a five-axis CNC machine and polishes it.
—New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2026
The Rangers will need to carry Baumler on the major league roster for the entire season, or send him back to the Baltimore Orioles, which thins some of their flexibility.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thins
Verb
-
Cynical congressional map dilutes Black voting power to target a kingmaker.—
Kathleen Parker,
Washington Post,
15 May 2026
-
The complaint also claims that the image deceives customers into thinking Lipa has endorsed the product and dilutes her brand identity.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Their body care kit gets to the root of smooth skin with a trio of products including a pre-sluff bar that rids it of lotions and oils, a washable textured mitt that sloughs off dead cells and a eucalyptus-scented body lotion that loads it with hydration while making your bathroom smell like a spa.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
-
Utilities need confidence that loads requesting hundreds of megawatts of capacity will actually materialize and remain economically viable.—
Anna Broughel,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Subtract what weakens the system.—
Nilton Bernini,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Teams evolve at different speeds, innovation concentrates among a small subset of employees, and trust across the organization weakens.—
Matt Rosenbaum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
In general, electrification cuts energy costs, removes the volatility of fuel prices, and builds more resilient operations.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
29 May 2026
-
Tens of thousands of jobs cuts across the industry have increased competition for open spots.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Powdery mildew fungi are host-specific, meaning each fungal species only infects specific plant species.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
25 May 2026
-
Orthoebolaviruses are also known to cause hemorrhagic fever, in which the virus infects specific immune cells, triggering a massive inflammatory response that can lead to internal bleeding and organ failure.—
Claire Maldarelli,
Scientific American,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
-
Runoff pollutes water used to irrigate crops and provide water for livestock.—
Abraham Nunbogu,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thins. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
