water down

verb

watered down; watering down; waters down
Synonyms of water downnext

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.
Some of his bolder earlier pledges did not make the election manifesto and others were watered down. Oliver Kay, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026 Will transparency reveal true costs, or be watered down before decisions are made? Geoff Watkinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026 By conservative estimates, one air conditioner sends five gallons of atmospheric water down the drain daily. Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Jan. 2026 In fact, pouring boiling water down the sink can do more harm than good. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2026 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 7 Feb. 2026.

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