WATER (DOWN) Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

water down

verb

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 Talk of overthrowing the regime has been dropped, and his goals for ending Iran’s nuclear ambitions watered down. —

Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026 Some Republicans, however, have expressed caution about watering down districts heading into an election cycle that is historically bad for the party in the White House. —

Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026 Midnight Mammoth last in a field of five that was watered down by the scratches of Pegasus World Cup winner Skippylongstocking and Grade 2 winner Westwood. —

Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026 That bill was watered down, however, and eventually got shoehorned into the one that passed Friday. —

Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 7 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for water down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for water down

Verb

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
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