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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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 watering down But Reeves and Starmer faced criticism for some of their fiscal policies, such as increasing National Insurance — a kind of tax on employment — for businesses, and watering down welfare reforms to appease backbench lawmakers. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 21 July 2026 Asking for sportsbook revenue while simultaneously watering down the product and coddling rule-breakers with minor-league rehab is a terrible look. — Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for watering down

Verb

Taittinger’s focus on high‑touch hospitality, long‑term relationship building and strict adherence to family heritage shows building global advocacy off a World Cup platform can happen without depleting margins or diluting the maison’s identity.

— Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
The league shifted its approach to officiating this season with an emphasis on increasing foul calls and diluting the amount of unnecessary physicality in the game.

— Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Definition of diluting

Verb

Germany’s biggest automaker is planning a massive restructuring and cost-cutting program in response to intensifying competition from Chinese electric vehicle makers and higher tariffs on its exports to the United States.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
This past winter, Madison lawmakers shot down a budget proposal that would have paid for a body camera program by cutting funds to the monitor.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026

Definition of cutting

Verb

California and 19 other attorneys generals are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for reversing action on high-polluting refrigerants.

— Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Another study, published in Nature, found that Canadian wildfires in 2023, when more than 43 million acres burned, generated more emissions than the burning of fossil fuels in all but the three most-polluting countries.

— Joshua Partlow, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026

Definition of polluting

Verb

Schlegel and Araújo both departed, further thinning a group that was already being rebuilt.

— Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
Aging bones are more fragile, making fractures more likely, while blood-thinning medications, which many older adults take, can increase the risk of severe internal bleeding after a fall.

— Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 13 July 2026

Definition of thinning

Verb

One of Robinson's attorneys, Kathryn Nester, also represented Kouri Richins, who was convicted of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022.

— Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
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.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Definition of poisoning

Browse Nearby Words

watering cans

watering down

watering hole

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“Watering down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watering%20down. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of watering down

verb

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