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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in adulterated
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of watered-down
Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2025
The mass-absorption of content watered down Prime Video’s overall pool of exclusivity as much of Freevee’s library was older content, which is the easiest to share.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
That’s why the game feels watered down now.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Uncut, straight from the barrel, and full of flavor, the barrel proof rye is not diluted or watered down.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2025
It wasn’t watered down or made easily digestible.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Representatives for the tech industry were opposed, and pitted it against AI companion chatbot regulation bill Senate Bill 243, which was watered down in the last days of the session.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 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
Verb
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
Adjective
From Kuruvilla’s perspective, the industry doesn’t have a method of holding everyone accountable if the due diligence legislation is watered down significantly enough; a death-by-omnibus could undermine supply chain accountability across the value chain at large.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2025
The mass-absorption of content watered down Prime Video’s overall pool of exclusivity as much of Freevee’s library was older content, which is the easiest to share.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
That’s why the game feels watered down now.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Uncut, straight from the barrel, and full of flavor, the barrel proof rye is not diluted or watered down.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2025
It wasn’t watered down or made easily digestible.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Representatives for the tech industry were opposed, and pitted it against AI companion chatbot regulation bill Senate Bill 243, which was watered down in the last days of the session.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watered-down
Verb
-
Bitcoin treasury craze cools Companies that diluted their stock by selling shares specifically to fund Bitcoin purchases have seen their values tumble by 20% to 50%, according to the WSJ.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Because Castile soap has a high pH-level, care should be taken to ensure it’s properly diluted before use.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 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
-
Bystanders in the area helped authorities lift part of the helicopter and get the victim out, who was then loaded into an ambulance, according to Sylvia.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The purchases of Argentinian bank cards in neighboring Chile have increased 438% this year, while Argentines have loaded up on Jordan-brand sneakers and Zara jeans.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But in 1775—for reasons still unknown—the horseback courier arrived back two weeks late, when botrytis had already infected Riesling grapes growing in the vineyards.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
5 Oct. 2025
-
At the end of the 19th century, Phylloxera bugs infected vineyards across Europe but a solution was found, and viticulture adapted and continued.—
Miguel A. Torres,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Vance said one portion of Democrats are making unreasonable demands to restore more than $1 trillion over the next decade in healthcare spending that was cut earlier this year.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Training, professional development, and the Safe Cities Partnership are among the areas cut.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Watered-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watered-down. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share