WATERING (DOWN) Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

watering down

verb

present participle of water down

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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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of watering down Some Republicans, however, have expressed caution about watering down districts heading into an election cycle that is historically bad for the party in the White House. —

Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 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 Proxies and acolytes are deployed to the networks to underscore the strength of the president’s stance while subtly watering down threats and reassuring investors. —

Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 13 Oct. 2025 Stop watering down your message to avoid offending anyone. —

Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for watering down

Verb

The challenge lies in tailoring your tone without diluting the mission or fragmenting the brand.

— Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2026
Try diluting it with water if the taste is too much for you.

— Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 9 Mar. 2026