as in diluting
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 watering down
These rules have already been subject to watering down proposals.
—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
But the most basic reforms seem to require years of discussion and back-and-forth and watering down.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Dress the salad right before serving to prevent the melon and cucumbers from watering down the vinaigrette.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
But watering down safe Republican seats in a tough year for the incumbent party, could backfire, some have predicted.
—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Name, image and likeness money is pulling guys with borderline first-round grades back to school, which is watering down the top of each class.
—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Trump blinked, pausing and watering down many of those tariffs in response to extreme market pressure.
—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
On Wednesday, The Times reported that Bass was directly involved in watering down the city’s after-action report on the fire, citing unnamed sources.
—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
States that are already watering down or even eliminating vaccine requirements may align with the administration’s decision to neglect and hide the data, contributing to a growing gap between states on vaccine policy, further fragmenting and politicizing decisions that should be based on science.
—
Jill Rosenthal,
STAT,
14 Jan. 2026
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
But the most basic reforms seem to require years of discussion and back-and-forth and watering down.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Dress the salad right before serving to prevent the melon and cucumbers from watering down the vinaigrette.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
But watering down safe Republican seats in a tough year for the incumbent party, could backfire, some have predicted.
—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Name, image and likeness money is pulling guys with borderline first-round grades back to school, which is watering down the top of each class.
—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Trump blinked, pausing and watering down many of those tariffs in response to extreme market pressure.
—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
On Wednesday, The Times reported that Bass was directly involved in watering down the city’s after-action report on the fire, citing unnamed sources.
—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
States that are already watering down or even eliminating vaccine requirements may align with the administration’s decision to neglect and hide the data, contributing to a growing gap between states on vaccine policy, further fragmenting and politicizing decisions that should be based on science.
—
Jill Rosenthal,
STAT,
14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watering down
Verb
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For healthy adults interested in safely trying the method, the nutritionist suggests mixing 1 tablespoon of plain, unflavored gelatin powder in hot water, diluting it with room-temperature water or herbal tea, and drinking it 15 to 30 minutes before a single daily meal.
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Beyond cannabis itself, alcohol and pharmaceuticals compete for the same discretionary dollar, further diluting the addressable market.
Verb
-
Charles Brooks admitted to retrieving and loading a handgun and chambering a round before trying to separate the two women, the news release stated.
-
The same rumors that started last summer about schools loading up on transfers are circulating again this summer.
Verb
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Jangoo and Chase batted cautiously in the first hour before cutting loose just before lunch.
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The ribbon-cutting event was a somewhat soggy affair (got to love that unpredictable Florida weather) but a happy one for Seth and the 20+ IONNA employees that made the road trip down from their corporate office in Raleigh, NC.
Verb
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Plastics degrade into microplastics, which in humans have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and other health issues, and which are polluting ecosystems from coral reefs to Antarctica.
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The California Air Resources Board has said transportation is responsible for about 38% of these emissions, while the next-most-polluting sector, industrial sources, is responsible for 22% of emissions.
Verb
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Anyone taking blood-thinning medications or living with an immune disorder should consult a healthcare professional before using reishi, because the mushroom may interact with certain medications.
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Iqnatural Jamaican Black Castor Oil, my go-to for filling in my thinning edges, is on sale for $10 during Amazon Prime Day.
Verb
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And now, a new surge of toxicity is infecting modern masculinity.
-
The procedure, called variolation, involved deliberately infecting a soldier with a small amount of smallpox virus to build immunity.
Verb
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One of Robinson's attorneys, Kathryn Nester, also represented Kouri Richins, who was convicted of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022.
-
Lewis was accused of poisoning two white female housemates, assaulted by a white mob in response to the charge, and acquitted in court, only to then be accused of stealing art supplies and prohibited from reënrolling.
Cite this Entry
“Watering down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watering%20down. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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