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
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
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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While cleaning vinegar is prized for its strength, experts sometimes recommend diluting it with water.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
25 Jan. 2026
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In a similar lawsuit, Texas Democrats challenged a congressional map drawn by Republicans, arguing that the map likely discriminates against Hispanic and Black Texans by diluting their votes in the upcoming election.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Adding 1/2 cup to your washer drum before loading in dirty laundry will help boost the cleaning properties of your detergent.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
17 Jan. 2026
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Caron added that the crew member involved was reportedly assisting ground staff by loading items as an extra set of hands and may have been left unaccounted for when the doors closed.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Although the Jayhawks led by as many as 21 points, BYU stayed within striking distance in the second half, cutting the lead to six as the clock ticked under two minutes to go.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
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There were cancellations and delays, with the Department of Transportation cutting flights due to safety concerns.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Due to these conditions, the region is highly reliant on expensive and polluting diesel fuel transported by truck, plane, or barge.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
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Florida’s approach for policing water contamination amounts to an honor system that protects polluting industries — including agriculture and development, whose representatives lobby heavily in Tallahassee, the Times found.—
Bethany Barnes,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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However, its rapid growth may necessitate thinning it out from time to time in an ornamental pond environment.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
31 Jan. 2026
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Instead of total elimination, Marrone advocated thinning the mule deer population, but leaving some to eat away at fire fuels and serve as a natural fire protection.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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What neither Bond nor Blofeld know, though, is that Safin has already intercepted Madeline, infecting her with a Heracles variant that is harmless to her but fatal to Blofeld.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
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Well, this research team from Yale found that their laboratory noses could produce interferons that could then keep the rhinovirus from infecting cells and thus limit the spread of the virus.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Attorneys for a Utah children's book author accused of poisoning her husband to death are accusing members of the prosecution team of witness intimidation, just weeks before jury selection is set to begin in her high-profile murder trial.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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In the novel, the story instead concludes aboard the Princess Andromeda cruise ship, where Luke is tricked into confessing to poisoning Thalia’s tree, clearing Chiron’s name.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watering down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watering%20down. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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