as in diluted
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in adulterated
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Recent Examples of watered-down
Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
While Europe’s automakers are lobbying for the 2035 proposals to be watered down in favour of net zero by 2050, Hyundai is all in for EVs, and its European EV rollout is slated to deliver wave after wave of zero-emission battery-electric vehicles.
—Michael Taylor, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The result is a smooth, more concentrated coffee that can be watered down or mixed with milk.
—Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025
But the free agent class ended up watered down with top guys re-signing (including target Brock Nelson with the Colorado Avalanche).
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
The unit has also been watered down by seven injuries since camp started, but even if Butch Barry’s unit were completely healthy a backup left tackle is missing from this roster.
—Omar Kelly
august 22, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
This year, legislation that would have hit solar panel owners in the wallet, Assembly Bill 942, was watered down to little more than a token after a fierce lobbying battle.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Miami should be an interesting team to watch this coming campaign, and with the rest of the East being largely watered down, the Heat definitely have a chance to make some surprising noise.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
In the past five years, the Oregon Legislature has repeatedly rejected or watered down bills to streamline permitting of energy projects.
—Tony Schick, ProPublica, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
And bills to crack down on algorithmic pricing — when companies use personal data to set prices — were watered down to apply only to grocery stores.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
While Europe’s automakers are lobbying for the 2035 proposals to be watered down in favour of net zero by 2050, Hyundai is all in for EVs, and its European EV rollout is slated to deliver wave after wave of zero-emission battery-electric vehicles.
—Michael Taylor, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The result is a smooth, more concentrated coffee that can be watered down or mixed with milk.
—Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025
But the free agent class ended up watered down with top guys re-signing (including target Brock Nelson with the Colorado Avalanche).
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
The unit has also been watered down by seven injuries since camp started, but even if Butch Barry’s unit were completely healthy a backup left tackle is missing from this roster.
—Omar Kelly
august 22, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
This year, legislation that would have hit solar panel owners in the wallet, Assembly Bill 942, was watered down to little more than a token after a fierce lobbying battle.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Miami should be an interesting team to watch this coming campaign, and with the rest of the East being largely watered down, the Heat definitely have a chance to make some surprising noise.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
In the past five years, the Oregon Legislature has repeatedly rejected or watered down bills to streamline permitting of energy projects.
—Tony Schick, ProPublica, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watered-down
Verb
-
Through his testimony and memories, the filmmakers add a poignant note about the grandeur and unique appeal that cinema held decades ago — a status that has since been diluted with the proliferation of other entertainment media.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Reality check required Last month, Mercedes CEO Ola Kaellenius joined other auto industry leaders using strong language to demand the EU’s CO2 plan be killed or diluted.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The company in 2020 pleaded guilty to distributing adulterated ice-cream products and agreed to pay a fine over the outbreak.—
Dylan Tokar,
WSJ,
2 Feb. 2023
-
And while most of those overdoses involved the illicit synthetic opioid fentanyl, experts say that an adulterated and contaminated drug supply is also leading to deaths.—
Nadia Kounang,
CNN,
17 Mar. 2022
Verb
-
The New York Yankees loaded the bases in the fifth inning Tuesday against Valdez at Houston's Daikin Park.—
Jon Paul Hoornstra,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
-
These tools typically consist of two handles that are spring loaded.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Approximately 50% of people infected with Ebola die of the extensive hemorrhaging the disease causes, although that figure varies widely depending on the strain and the available medical care.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The 30-year-old was subsequently diagnosed with chorioamnionitis, a serious condition that occurs when the membranes that surround the fetus and amniotic fluid are infected by bacteria.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Initially lined up outside, Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones quickly cut inside to beat the right tackle.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
-
On the northeast of the fire, by Sugar Pine Mountain, crews worked in steep, inaccessible terrain to bring containment lines into the natural rock bluff, trying to cut the fire off south of the Wishon Reservoir for the protection of the critical hydroelectric infrastructure.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Watered-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watered-down. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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