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.
Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images The European Union on Tuesday is expected to water down its effective ban on sales of new combustion-engine cars from 2035, after lobbying efforts from Germany, Italy, and some automotive industry groups. Sam Meredith, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025 Finish by pouring in warm water down the drain to flush out the clog. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 15 Dec. 2025 The idea, Minogue explains, was to try and blend her own sonic palette with classic Christmas fare without watering down either sound. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 11 Dec. 2025 The resulting consensus watered down the BAM, leaving many from the Global South frustrated. Natalie Sum Yue Chung, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025 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 21 Dec. 2025.

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