waters down

verb

present tense third-person singular of water down
as in dilutes
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances watered down the cocktails while jacking up their prices

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 waters down Without the winds, warm water in the east begins to flow back and eventually occupies much of the equatorial waters down to about 300 meters from the coast of South America to the middle of the Pacific. — Steven Paton, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026 That major hedge is new, and seriously waters down the importance of these two existing constitutional criteria. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026 Many have complained that having two divisions and two state champions for each classification waters down the playoffs and provides easier paths to the state championship game. — Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026 Tech companies are poised for a big win if Europe waters down its digital regulations overhaul and makes compliance voluntary. — Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026 The most recent version of the deal waters down a landmark 2021 agreement that set a minimum global corporate tax of 15%. — Fatima Hussein, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waters down
  1. dilutes
  2. loads
  3. cuts
  4. pollutes
  5. thins
  6. infects
Verb
  • Shaking the gin and lemon juice with simple syrup and ice properly dilutes the cocktail and adds a delicate sweetness.
    — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In her view, turning storied hotels into social-media backdrops dilutes the exclusivity that defining properties once guaranteed.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of dilutes
Verb
  • Don’t assume that because your homepage loads quickly on office Wi-Fi, every patient has the same experience.
    — Chris Zelig, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The main sleeper pod packs down small to store easily at home, then loads neatly into small and midsize vans only to burst out the tailgate at camp and create an instant bedroom.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of loads
Verb
  • The video cuts to flashback of similar experiences in which Swift, his then-companion, reacted more angrily to his infractions.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The video cuts to Swift living out exactly what Johnson’s been living through, revealing that Farrell poisoned Swift, leading to her death.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of cuts
Verb
  • The usual analogy is that generative AI and LLMs are akin to a factory that pollutes local waters.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Chenab River runs red with blood while poison pollutes the five rivers of Punjab and spreads through the fertile soil.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
Definition of pollutes
Verb
  • Estrogen loss thins the vaginal tissue and changes the microbiome, leading to a less acidic environment -- a breeding ground for harmful bacteria that cause UTIs.
    — Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The one bit of irony is that, despite the rugged features, the SoundLink Max actually sounds better indoors, as the bass thins out if there are no walls for the sound to bounce off of.
    — BestReviews, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of thins
Verb
  • For example, Clostridioides difficile is a spore-forming bacterium that infects the gut and causes severe diarrhea and colitis.
    — Canan Karakoç, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Along the way, Bryan gets bit by a zombie but hides the wound, which slowly infects him.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of infects

Browse Nearby Words

waters
waters down
watershed
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Cite this Entry

“Waters down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waters%20down. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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