water down

verb

watered down; watering down; waters down

transitive verb

: to reduce or temper the force or effectiveness of
watered down the plan
watered-down adjective

Examples of water down in a Sentence

watered down the cocktails while jacking up their prices
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Another genetic factor that could influence coat color is dilution, which, unlike progressive graying, affects the coat color from birth, essentially watering down the pigment to appear gray or fawn. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025 Other high-ranking law enforcement officials in the Trump administration, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, have also watered down their previous conspiratorial suggestions about the information the Trump administration has on Epstein. Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 As governor, Lamont instead threatened to veto expansions of Connecticut’s Trust Act protections until the version of H.B. 7212, passed by the Judiciary Committee, was significantly watered down. Nick Gauthier, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025 Squeeze the bottle to force the water down the drain and remove the clog. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for water down

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of water down was in 1811

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Cite this Entry

“Water down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20down. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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