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
But my longtime pals, baby boomers all, are thinning out.
—
David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
It is treated with beta blockers and blood-thinning medicine to reduce risks of clots and other flareups.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Players love to kid Odor — the second baseman with 31 home runs and a memorable punch to Jose Bautista’s jaw — about his prematurely thinning hair.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
At the Las Vegas convention, both Cruise, 63, and the Birdman director, 62, were present to share the teaser, which showed an older Cruise with white, thinning hair and wrinkles, thanks to some prosthetics, old-age makeup and a hairpiece.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
In the courtroom, Alfortish’s face looked gaunt after spending roughly a year in prison, and his hair, thinning now, had gone white.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Ship-tracking data showed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz thinning hours before the blockade began.
—Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
One standout product included in Amazon's sale is the brand's Flourish Shampoo, specifically designed for thinning hair.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
On Placerville's outskirts, state and local agencies are already thinning out the dense underbrush as another layer of protection.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
It is treated with beta blockers and blood-thinning medicine to reduce risks of clots and other flareups.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Players love to kid Odor — the second baseman with 31 home runs and a memorable punch to Jose Bautista’s jaw — about his prematurely thinning hair.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
At the Las Vegas convention, both Cruise, 63, and the Birdman director, 62, were present to share the teaser, which showed an older Cruise with white, thinning hair and wrinkles, thanks to some prosthetics, old-age makeup and a hairpiece.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
In the courtroom, Alfortish’s face looked gaunt after spending roughly a year in prison, and his hair, thinning now, had gone white.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Ship-tracking data showed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz thinning hours before the blockade began.
—Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
One standout product included in Amazon's sale is the brand's Flourish Shampoo, specifically designed for thinning hair.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
On Placerville's outskirts, state and local agencies are already thinning out the dense underbrush as another layer of protection.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thinning
Verb
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Deter bees from soaking up the nectar by diluting the blend, mixing it with more water than sugar.—
Blythe Copeland,
Martha Stewart,
15 Apr. 2026
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What’s more, the suit alleges that management and company affiliates enriched themselves — through operating fees, development fees, property-management and leasing fees, reimbursements and insider-favoring transactions — while diluting investor equity.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Vesia surrendered a two-run triple to Swanson and an RBI single to Nico Hoerner, cutting the Dodgers’ lead to one.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Part of that includes 'cutting the pond' using machinery to dig through the sand and allow water to flow in and out.—
Jacob Wycoff,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Edgar Quero got hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Andrew Benintendi.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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But there’s also an imbalance created with loading up that Cirelli line, which is that Point’s unit is far less dangerous.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Natural Ways to Get Rid of Onion Grass These invasive weeds are fast-growing and rob your grass of water, nutrients, and sunlight, weakening your garden over time, says Brian Feldman, senior director of technical operations at TruGreen.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
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Muscle loss and bone weakening Numerous studies have documented that rapid weight loss from Ozempic and other medications can cause significant muscle loss, especially in people who don’t increase their protein intake.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thinning. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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