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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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
That bill was watered down, however, and eventually got shoehorned into the one that passed Friday.
—
Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Many have complained that having two divisions and two state champions for each classification waters down the playoffs and provides easier paths to the state championship game.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
But it was watered down significantly since it was introduced.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 26 Feb. 2026
And while there have been state-level efforts to increase housing supply, many of those initiatives have been riddled with loopholes and poison pills that allow local NIMBYs to distort or water down new housing development efforts.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for water down
Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Many have complained that having two divisions and two state champions for each classification waters down the playoffs and provides easier paths to the state championship game.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
But it was watered down significantly since it was introduced.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 26 Feb. 2026
And while there have been state-level efforts to increase housing supply, many of those initiatives have been riddled with loopholes and poison pills that allow local NIMBYs to distort or water down new housing development efforts.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for water down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for water down
Verb
-
Artificial intelligence companies recently threatened to shun Illinois and build their most advanced data centers in Wisconsin and Indiana if the state doesn’t dilute its privacy law, the toughest in the country.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The plans allow existing stockholders to buy shares at a steep discount, which dilutes the value and voting power of new share purchases.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Back in 2024, Hill made the most sense to face Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded in Game 1 of the World Series.—
Johnny Flores Jr,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
According to a Treasury Department license document, the authorization applies until April 11 and applies to Russian oil that was loaded onto vessels before March 12.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Even as Michigan State came roaring back in the second half, cutting the lead to just two in the final minute, UCLA never flinched.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Orangefield cut the lead to 8 points a couple of times late in the game, but Cobb made 5 of 6 free throws in the final 46 seconds to keep the Bobcats at bay.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The copper-mining industry has so polluted the town that its air stinks and its mountains are covered in black ash.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Prices are higher in the Golden State because of higher taxes and stricter requirements for cleaner, more expensive gas that pollutes less.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The false death of Nicholas Bell (David Morse) — which evolved from a heart attack and Bailey’s grandfather being poisoned — brought malicious forces out of the woodwork.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Chronic mold poisoning our children.—
Sumathy Kumar,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Two Americans have died from the virus since 2024, and 71 have been infected.—
Susanne Rust
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
If exposed, an unvaccinated person has a 90% chance of being infected, according to the CDC.—
Andrew Jones,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Water down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/water%20down. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
