water down

verb

Definition of water downnext
as in to dilute
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances watered down the cocktails while jacking up their prices

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 water down The second problem is their plan lets Congress water down any commission recommendations. — Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 During their 2022 field season, the researchers observed that during heavy rainfall, corridors in the structure may have channeled water down an interior staircase into the artificial cave. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2026 The sprinkler poured water down from the ceiling and flooded her apartment. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2026 Dress the salad right before serving to ensure the cucumbers and melon don’t water down the vinaigrette’s flavor. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for water down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for water down
  1. dilute
  2. load
  3. dirty
  4. cut
  5. pollute
  6. poison
  7. infect
Verb
  • Again, no free cash flow means funds need to be raised externally; equity offerings dilute shareholders, while debt offerings increase leverage and interest expense.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026
  • These factors raise the odds that the current push will be slowed, diluted, or forced into hybrid language.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of dilute
Verb
  • Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott retired seven straight before singles by Henry Bolte and Tommy White and a walk to Jonah Heim loaded the bases in the fourth.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The Red Sox were limited to one run in the bottom of the 11th despite loading the bases with one out.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of load
Verb
  • Satisfy your lasagna craving without dirtying up a pile of dishes.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
  • The zipper shoe compartment keeps your shoes from dirtying up your clothing, and the massive interior can hold many outfits for your weekend getaway.
    — Olivia Dubyak, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of dirty
Verb
  • However, a dangerous push to cut these crucial programs, especially in Africa, risks repeating past errors and ceding influence to competitors.
    — James K. Glassman, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Sears carried it wide, cut inside center-back Rafaelle, and fired past Moorhouse for the goal.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of cut
Verb
  • Citizen suits, for example, have extracted millions from heavily polluting oil and gas operations, and ensured that lead pipes in Flint, Michigan, would be removed after its water crisis.
    — Michael Phillis, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Both of us need data centers to power our online research, but New York deserves data centers that are run responsibly, not that are allowed to pollute willy-nilly.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of pollute
Verb
  • The types of crimes weren’t spelled out, but imagine that a President, say, poisoned his estranged spouse and concealed the crime until after leaving the White House.
    — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Aegon refuses, so instead his own supporters poison him with wine.
    — James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of poison
Verb
  • The type that usually makes people sick isn’t the same type that usually infects dogs and cats.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The latest reports of rabid animals follows an incident in July in which a beaver infected with rabies bit a 13-year-old boy at Cunningham Falls State Park in Maryland's Frederick County.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of infect

Browse Nearby Words

watercrafts
water down
watered
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Cite this Entry

“Water down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/water%20down. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of water down for Spanish Speakers

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