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
Didi Tang, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Hoping to avoid a veto, Bahrain significantly watered down its proposal to authorize defensive — but not offensive — action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait.
—ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
The resolution was significantly watered down in the face of opposition from China and Russia about allowing force.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
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
Hoping to avoid a veto, Bahrain significantly watered down its proposal to authorize defensive — but not offensive — action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait.
—Didi Tang, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Hoping to avoid a veto, Bahrain significantly watered down its proposal to authorize defensive — but not offensive — action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait.
—ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
The resolution was significantly watered down in the face of opposition from China and Russia about allowing force.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
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
-
Some say that the quantity of productions required by streaming services has diluted the talent pool of crews.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
When this idea is diluted, government expands its ambition to curate the public’s consciousness.—
George F. Will,
Washington Post,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
David Bednar allowed an RBI single to Xavier Edwards in the ninth and loaded the bases before earning his fourth save.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
In the top of the second with the bases loaded, the Mets’ Carson Benge hit a slow roller to the left side of the infield.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
People infected with this latent form of tuberculosis will receive an alternate treatment, as standard treatment would not be effective.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Harry and Caroline had been like the final living humans among the zombies, boarding up the windows of their childless life, until one day Caroline had looked at her hideout companion and realized he was infected, too.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Minnesota led by 10 with about four minutes left before Houston used an 8-2 run, with four points from Alperen Sengun, to cut the lead to 132-128 with about a minute to go.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
It is equipped with fold-out platforms, a large glass-bottom pool, and a lounge with a DJ booth, meaning seafarers can play with water toys by day and cut shapes by night.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watered-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watered-down. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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