thin 1 of 2

adjective

ˈthin How to pronounce thin (audio)
Definition of thinnext
1
as in skinny
having a noticeably small amount of body fat after starting a workout routine, she looked thinner

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slender
being of less than usual width the thin threads of a cobweb

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3
as in thinned
not containing very much of some important element the evidence for that oddball theory is pretty thin

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thin

2 of 2

verb

as in to dilute
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective thin contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of thin are slender, slight, slim, and tenuous. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," thin implies comparatively little extension between surfaces or in diameter, or it may imply lack of substance, richness, or abundance.

thin wire
a thin soup

In what contexts can slender take the place of thin?

The words slender and thin can be used in similar contexts, but slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

When would slight be a good substitute for thin?

The synonyms slight and thin are sometimes interchangeable, but slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When is it sensible to use slim instead of thin?

The words slim and thin are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry
a slim chance

Where would tenuous be a reasonable alternative to thin?

In some situations, the words tenuous and thin are roughly equivalent. However, tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

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 thin
Adjective
The Ultra's thinner black bezel intrudes slightly upon the display for its front-facing camera, though the notch is smaller than last year's Tab S10 Ultra. —PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025 Maybe not crimping as much on the ends or maybe rolling the dough too thin? —Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
After seedlings emerge, thin them to 10 inches apart. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025 Overseeding or reseeding thinning grass is a regular part of annual lawn maintenance. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thin
  1. skinny
  2. slender
  3. dilute
  4. bony
  5. narrow
  6. diluted
  7. cut
  8. lean
Adjective
  • For a cozy, preppy look for fall, for example, pair your favorite brown riding boots with black leggings or skinny jeans and a sweater.
    — Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The Marguerite Another skinny silhouette, just a little longer.
    — Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of skinny
Adjective
  • The top-floor primary suite faces the water with a fireplace, a sitting area that spills onto a slender balcony, and a spectacular bathroom that turns bathing and grooming into a ceremony.
    — Mark David, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025
  • For a modern or narrow doorway, tall, slender plants elongate the entry.
    — Lauren Jones, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2025
Definition of slender
Verb
  • Creating majority-Black districts in the South has been a longstanding remedy to the historic dispersal of minority populations across multiple districts to dilute their voting power.
    — Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The move would effectively dilute the voting power of Missouri’s largest city, combining the voters in Kansas City’s urban areas with residents living in the rural, Republican-leaning parts of the state.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
Definition of dilute
Adjective
  • Lift your hips off the ground and place a block underneath your sacrum, the widest, boniest part of your pelvis.
    — Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024
  • Differences in Adult Bones That being said, some adults are bonier than others.
    — Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023
Definition of bony
Adjective
  • They’re also made with arch support and a toe box that’s not too narrow or crammed, per the brand, plus the rubber sole offers a nice cushioned platform with each step.
    — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • With Republicans holding only a narrow majority, the outcomes could shape the balance of power heading into 2026.
    — Grace Sandman, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Moisture absorbed from the air returns as diluted desiccant to storage.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Your Way Dry Wash or a diluted shampoo, followed by a blow-dry to prevent mildew.
    — Larry Stansbury, Essence, 4 Sep. 2025
Definition of diluted
Verb
  • Initially lined up outside, Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones quickly cut inside to beat the right tackle.
    — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
  • On the northeast of the fire, by Sugar Pine Mountain, crews worked in steep, inaccessible terrain to bring containment lines into the natural rock bluff, trying to cut the fire off south of the Wishon Reservoir for the protection of the critical hydroelectric infrastructure.
    — CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Definition of cut
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, LinkedIn is flooded with postings of lean, 10-person teams achieving $10+ million in ARR for their agentic AI business.
    — Mark Francis, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Daily life here tends to be leaner, quieter, and less consumption-driven.
    — Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025
Definition of lean

Phrases Containing thin

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thimblerigs
thin
thing
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Cite this Entry

“Thin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thin. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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