WATER DOWN Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

water down

verb

Definition of water down

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

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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 Newspaper op-eds from big names have long been ghostwritten by junior staffers or outside PR firms — no disclosure necessary, and often watered down and hyper-optimized to be as palatable as possible. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Donalds has tried to defuse the issue by saying that SB 484, Florida’s watered down tech protection law, guarantees Floridians will never be hit with electricity rate hikes as a result of data centers. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026 Ironically, the firmly conservative majority has watered down Roberts’s power. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Before then, a creek naturally allowed the flow of surface water down Television Road, court documents say. — Zuri Primos july 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for water down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for water down

Verb

Unfortunately, Volvo also fitted steering that feels like it has been diluted.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026
When the lid is locked, condensation builds up and drips back into the dish, which can thin sauces and dilute seasoning.

— Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of dilute

Verb

Just before the show began, Williams loaded up her pre-show playlist with six songs that speak to this musical conversation.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026
Mariners reliever Carlos Vargas (1-0) struck out Josh Lowe and Christian Moore — each on three pitches — with the bases loaded to end the bottom of the fifth, and Seattle pushed the lead to 7-2 on RBI singles by Canzone and Raleigh in the sixth.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 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

Lopez tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Hernandez to cut Miami’s lead to 11 points.

— Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
The decline raises the prospect of an interest rate cut by the central bank at next week’s monetary policy committee meeting, the penultimate one for this year.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of cut

Verb

The latter regulation is the state’s backstop climate trading program that puts an ever-stricter cap on emissions across sectors and allows polluting businesses to buy and trade allowances to meet it.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
In the northern part of the district, the waterfront is polluted by ships.

— Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of pollute

Verb

Ten lions found dead in a wildlife reserve in Tanzania are suspected to have been poisoned, according to wildlife officials.

— Kristin Wright, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026
The attacks escalated this summer, with 16 trees — 13 Jeffrey pines and three white firs — poisoned on three occasions between May and early August.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of poison

Verb

Outlining a bioweapon doomsday scenario, the report said novel pathogens could be created in a lab, delivered to target locations, and spread to infect large populations of people in multiple places.

— Barbara Ortutay, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
She is actually infected, and Bryan has become caught up in the franchise’s inciting t-virus outbreak.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of infect

Browse Nearby Words

watercrafts

water down

watered

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“Water down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/water%20down. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of water down

verb

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