as in adulterated
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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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Recent Examples of watered-down
Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026
But they've since been watered down.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The Republican supermajority watered down consumer protection bills, approved no property tax cuts and did little to improve the cost of living.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 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
But it was watered down significantly since it was introduced.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 26 Feb. 2026
The move is in stark contrast to New York City, where new mayor Zohran Mamdani watered down the Big Apple's definition of anti-Jewish hate.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
His administration was filled with crypto-friendly people, who watered down regulations, prompting all sorts of investors to buy into the craze.
—Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
In the decades since, silencing of even that watered-down (if in some ways more accurate) term has been linked to fossil fuel companies suppressing science to boost profits.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
But they've since been watered down.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The Republican supermajority watered down consumer protection bills, approved no property tax cuts and did little to improve the cost of living.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 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
But it was watered down significantly since it was introduced.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 26 Feb. 2026
The move is in stark contrast to New York City, where new mayor Zohran Mamdani watered down the Big Apple's definition of anti-Jewish hate.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
His administration was filled with crypto-friendly people, who watered down regulations, prompting all sorts of investors to buy into the craze.
—Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watered-down
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
-
If the Universe diluted enough, that curvature term could even someday become dominant!—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
-
As the cultural background of Sacramento’s Little Italy Historic District has become diluted in recent decades, one small business in the area is celebrating a major milestone and still honoring its Italian roots.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Braves loaded the bases with one away.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Rookie Kevin McGonigle hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning to continue his dazzling start and lead the Detroit Tigers to a 5-2 win against the San Diego Padres on Friday night.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Symptoms typically appear within one to two weeks after becoming infected and may include fever, headache, rash, and body aches.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Young ticks frequently feed on these mice and become infected.—
Emily Bache,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Medical experts say if a rattlesnake bites, keep the area still, at or below heart level, do not apply ice, do not cut the wound, and do not suck out the venom – and seek help immediately.—
Jasmine Viel,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The Aztecs were within nine points late in the first half against Michigan and had a 3 rattle out that would have cut it to six before getting their doors blown off 94-54, their most lopsided defeat of the 21st century.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watered-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watered-down. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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