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

Example Sentences

watered down the cocktails while jacking up their prices
Recent Examples on the Web In the affirmative action trial, Harvard said that Mr. Kahlenberg’s model would produce too little diversity, and water down academic quality. Anemona Hartocollis, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2023 But if widely expected legal challenges to the SEC’s rules—some expected to come from Republican attorneys general waging a broader war against corporate sustainability pledges—water down or delay that effort, California’s law could also serve as a backstop, Wiener says. WIRED, 24 Mar. 2023 The words are now officially on paper, and anyone looking to oppose or water down the bill should be put on notice—especially since there’s still much more to be done. Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 1 Mar. 2023 The personal filing comes after Jones lost a bid in Texas to water down the nearly $50 million damages award handed down by a jury earlier this year over the Infowars host’s false claims about the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Samantha Beech, CNN, 2 Dec. 2022 Twitter’s founder Jack Dorsey, also offered a mea culpa to water down news of company failings, massive layoffs, and poor performance. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 24 Jan. 2023 Her evidence comes from around the country, where legislators tried to water down public health laws related to vaccines. Karen Kaplanscience And Medicine Editor Dec. 13, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2022 Lawmakers have squabbled over details of privacy proposals, and tech giants have deployed armies of lobbyists to water down or destroy legislation. Cecilia Kang, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Nov. 2022 To water down Aaron's life story to what seems to be unverified clickbait for profit is disgusting. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 13 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'water down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near water down

Cite this Entry

“Water down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20down. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

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