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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of watered-down
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
21 June 2026
The bill was watered down after its sponsors, under pressure from the gambling companies and their lobbyists, struck a provision that would have banned all proposition bets.
—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
Three federal health employees later told me political appointees had watered down the original language.
—
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Three federal health employees later told me political appointees had watered down the original language.
—
Annie Waldman,
ProPublica,
9 June 2026
By then, his sentence got watered down by Epstein’s lawyers.
—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
Many watered down those authorities.
—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
4 June 2026
Her looks were watered down and her ratios have proven unlovely.
—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
The concierge idea is being watered down in favor of dealerships, perhaps shared with Hyundai and Kia.
—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
30 May 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
But consumer advocates watch with dismay as some of those ideas are gutted or watered down.
—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
21 June 2026
The bill was watered down after its sponsors, under pressure from the gambling companies and their lobbyists, struck a provision that would have banned all proposition bets.
—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
Three federal health employees later told me political appointees had watered down the original language.
—
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Three federal health employees later told me political appointees had watered down the original language.
—
Annie Waldman,
ProPublica,
9 June 2026
By then, his sentence got watered down by Epstein’s lawyers.
—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
Many watered down those authorities.
—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
4 June 2026
Her looks were watered down and her ratios have proven unlovely.
—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
The concierge idea is being watered down in favor of dealerships, perhaps shared with Hyundai and Kia.
—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watered-down
Adjective
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The company in 2020 pleaded guilty to distributing adulterated ice-cream products and agreed to pay a fine over the outbreak.
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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.
Verb
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The federal lawsuit, filed in September of 2024, alleged that the 2022 DeSoto County electoral map diluted Black voting power in county office elections.
-
In conversations about culture, creativity and innovation, Black American contributions are often celebrated while simultaneously being misunderstood, diluted or folded into broader categories that fail to acknowledge their distinct roots.
Verb
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During the last homestand, the day after the bottom of the order struck out consecutively with the bases loaded in what became a walk-off win against the Baltimore Orioles, Roberts called over Ryan Ward and Alex Freeland in the dugout during batting practice.
-
Detroit, though, loaded the bases with one out in the third on a walk, Altuve's fielding error and a hit batter.
Verb
-
If people do get infected, antiviral treatments like oseltamivir already exist and vaccines could follow if cases rise.
-
Most norovirus outbreaks occur when people who are already infected spread the virus to others by direct means, such as through sharing food or utensils.
Verb
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The lineup already was revving, as Rushing homered in the second inning while Sasaki was still in the game, and both Kyle Tucker and Muncy drove in runs off starter Randy Vasquez in the third, cutting the deficit to two.
-
Potential applications beyond wind energy The researchers believe the manufacturing approach could cut production costs for small wind turbines and help more people use lightweight renewable energy technology.
Cite this Entry
“Watered-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watered-down. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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