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
Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 26 Feb. 2026
Bain is one of the few blue chip talents in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is fairly watered down from a talent standpoint.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 25 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
That language has been watered down to a study on the economic impact of such boundaries.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
Harris said swift regulation is pressing because as AI takes over jobs, human political power could become watered down as human workers grow less valuable economically.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Policies that would actually help people get watered down.
—State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
This was all before sources told The Times last week that Bass ordered an after-action report on the Palisades fire be — no pun intended — watered down to limit legal liability against the city.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 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
But it was watered down significantly since it was introduced.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 26 Feb. 2026
Bain is one of the few blue chip talents in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is fairly watered down from a talent standpoint.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 25 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
That language has been watered down to a study on the economic impact of such boundaries.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
Harris said swift regulation is pressing because as AI takes over jobs, human political power could become watered down as human workers grow less valuable economically.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Policies that would actually help people get watered down.
—State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
This was all before sources told The Times last week that Bass ordered an after-action report on the Palisades fire be — no pun intended — watered down to limit legal liability against the city.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 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
-
Once the first set of true leaves appears, begin fertilizing weekly with a water-soluble, organic fertilizer diluted to half strength.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Then give it a monthly shot of liquid houseplant fertilizer, diluted to half strength, to replenish the nutrients after the flower show.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
From there Moss scrapped to two outs, but the Bruins worked the bases loaded before Martin slapped a single up the middle to drive in two runs.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
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And with so much American history to share, Straughter has loaded her quilts with images both front and back.—
Susan DeGrane,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
How do banks and credit unions know their ATMs have been infected?—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The next level then shifts to Leon, who picks up a chainsaw to cut his way through an onslaught of infected.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sam Bennett scored with 35 seconds left to cut the deficit back to one but Florida could get no closer.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
-
That deal, which required Iran to limit its nuclear program by, among other things, cutting enrichment levels and reducing centrifuges, took effect in 2016 and was due to expire 10 years after it was adopted.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watered-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watered-down. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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