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
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
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
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Translators are not auxiliary figures but co-witnesses, extending the reach of these voices without diluting their force.—
Alex Averbuch,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
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Capturing and feeding this CO₂ to microbes sidesteps the significant energy penalty of diluting it with air while also removing pollutants.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Across TikTok, eBay, and online forums, young adults are snapping up used iPod Classics and Nanos, loading them with music, and in some cases canceling their streaming subscriptions entirely.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
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This key test involves loading the rocket with fuel, preparing the capsule that will house the Artemis II crew for the duration of the mission for launch, and simulating a launch countdown.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On one sequence Harding made a perfect bounce pass to a cutting Edmonds, who dunked over a West Virginia defender.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Feb. 2026
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Go easy on the buffing Some people also like to buff their nails after cutting, and a light buff can promote healthy growth and increase shine.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Others live and work near polluting freeways.—
Dorany Pineda,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Japan, one of the world's top carbon emitters, plans to ship emissions from its heavily polluting industries –– spanning electric power, oil refining, cement, shipping and steel –– to Malaysia within the next few years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Shoppers with thinning hair rave about the BosleyMD's BosRevive Nourishing Shampoo for thickening their locks.—
Rachel Nussbaum,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
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With margins thinning, Kindred had no choice but to pass those higher costs on to her customers.—
DIAMOND VENCES,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The custom, which can risk infecting infants with dangerous diseases, is practiced only in haredi Orthodox communities such as the substantial one in Antwerp.—
Philissa Cramer,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2026
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Left Arrow Right Arrow Fake browser extensions are nothing new, but this one takes things a step further by deliberately breaking your computer to scare you into infecting it.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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According to charging documents in the case obtained by USA TODAY, Kouri Richins is accused of poisoning her spouse with fentanyl at their home in Kamas, a small mountain town in Summit County.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
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Richins, 35, is charged with multiple felonies for allegedly poisoning her late husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watering down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watering%20down. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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