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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Recent Examples of water down
These rules, vehemently opposed by the natural gas industry, already watered down by the district to near-toothlessness, were ultimately rejected by the board — apparently overwhelmed by the flood of fake opposition to even the mildest effort to limit pollution from gas-burning appliances.
—
Mary Nichols, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Hoping to avoid a veto, Bahrain significantly watered down its proposal to authorize defensive — but not offensive — action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait.
—Didi Tang, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Hoping to avoid a veto, Bahrain significantly watered down its proposal to authorize defensive — but not offensive — action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait.
—ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
The resolution was significantly watered down in the face of opposition from China and Russia about allowing force.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for water down
Mary Nichols, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Hoping to avoid a veto, Bahrain significantly watered down its proposal to authorize defensive — but not offensive — action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait.
—Didi Tang, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Hoping to avoid a veto, Bahrain significantly watered down its proposal to authorize defensive — but not offensive — action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait.
—ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
The resolution was significantly watered down in the face of opposition from China and Russia about allowing force.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for water down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for water down
Verb
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The sheer amount of water that fell from the sky during the Kona low storms — about 2 trillion gallons statewide — would have significantly diluted the chemicals everywhere.—
Thomas Heaton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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But in such arrangements, junior staff can get overlooked, employees can feel directionless, and managers can burn out—or, as Dimon points out, accountability for getting things done can be diluted.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Justin Topa gave up an infield single to Parker Meadows that loaded the bases before Zach McKinstry lined out to left field.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Woo had the Rangers following the same script on Wednesday, allowing only two hits through his first four innings of work, but the team got after the pitcher in the fifth and loaded the bases for Brandon Nimmo, who hit a weak grounder to first baseman Connor Joe.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
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With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Minnesota led by 10 with about four minutes left before Houston used an 8-2 run, with four points from Alperen Sengun, to cut the lead to 132-128 with about a minute to go.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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It is equipped with fold-out platforms, a large glass-bottom pool, and a lounge with a DJ booth, meaning seafarers can play with water toys by day and cut shapes by night.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the Monsanto lawsuit, it is alleged that the company polluted Lake Michigan with PCBs, according to documents.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Millions of gallons a day of raw, untreated sewage and industrial waste flows north through the Tijuana River, across the border, into the Tijuana River Estuary and out into the Pacific — polluting the air as well.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Protesters, however, say that HERC, which neighbors Target Field near the North Loop neighborhood, is responsible for essentially poisoning people who live nearby.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
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But he was hauled back into court in August 2024 to answer to new allegations that also attempted to poison his daughter, who was then 10, using the same method.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Harry and Caroline had been like the final living humans among the zombies, boarding up the windows of their childless life, until one day Caroline had looked at her hideout companion and realized he was infected, too.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
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Gambian giant rats and other rodents infected prairie dogs, which in turn infected nearly 100 people who handled the animals.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Water down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/water%20down. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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