Word: diluted (adjective)

Associations

Diluted means that something has been made weaker or less concentrated by adding a liquid, usually water. It can refer to drinks, solutions, or even ideas.

• Example 1: "The juice was too strong, so I diluted it with water." (Here, the juice is made weaker by adding water.)
• Example 2: "The company diluted its brand by releasing too many low-quality products." (In this case, the brand's strength is weakened by poor quality.)
• Example 3: "She diluted her message to make it more acceptable to her audience." (This means she made her message less direct or strong.)

A well-known synonym for diluted is "thinned." However, "thinned" often refers specifically to making something less thick, while "diluted" can refer to both liquids and abstract concepts like ideas.

Substitution

Instead of "diluted," you could use:

• "weakened" - This suggests a loss of strength but may not imply adding water.
• "thinned" - This is more specific to liquids.
• "watered down" - This phrase can be used in a similar way to "diluted," especially in a figurative sense.

Each of these alternatives has a slightly different nuance. For example, "watered down" can imply that something has lost its original value or quality, while "weakened" focuses more on the loss of effectiveness.

Deconstruction

The word "diluted" comes from the verb "dilute."

• The root is "lute," which comes from the Latin "diluere," meaning "to wash away."
• The prefix "di-" means "apart" or "asunder," which indicates separation or dilution.

Historically, the word has been used to describe the process of making solutions less concentrated since the 15th century.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you diluted something, like a drink or a message? How did it change the original?
• In what situations might diluting an idea be beneficial or harmful?
• How does the concept of dilution apply to other areas, like relationships or work projects?