Standard Lemma guide

thinly

adv · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈθɪnli/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪnli
  • CMU ARPABET: TH IH1 N L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a thin, loose, or scattered manner; scantily; not thickly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Barely; hardly; with little attempt to conceal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • a thinly-veiled attack on my integrity
  • a thinly disguised attempt at sabotage

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

in a widely distributed manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • thinly overgrown mountainside

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: thickly

4

adverb

Meaning 4

in a small quantity or extent

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • spread the margarine thinly over the meat
  • apply paint lightly

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lightly

Antonyms: thickly

5

adverb

Meaning 5

without viscosity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the blood was flowing thin

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: thin

Antonyms: thickly

6

adverb

Meaning 6

without force or sincere effort

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • smiled thinly

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English þynnelich (“with thin material; thinly”); equivalent to thin + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: maldike — not thickly
  • Finnish: ohuesti — not thickly
  • Russian: то́нко (tónko) — not thickly
  • Swedish: glest — not thickly
  • Swedish: tunt — not thickly