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
  • Even where mold has been detected, brewing dilutes the concentration and lowers any health risk.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Season 4 dilutes that power across three couples, one of whom occupies the highest office in America.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dilutes
Verb
  • The live feed loads much faster in the Birdbuddy app thanks to a new instant wake-up feature.
    — Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 22 Oct. 2026
  • These improvements are intended to help military forces transport larger loads more efficiently and support operational demands across a range of environments.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of loads
Verb
  • Amendment 3 cuts only those taxes, imposing a $150,000 homestead tax exemption in 2027 rising to $250,000 the following year.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Planned cuts to the public university system, which represents a near-universal point of pride in the crisis-prone country, sent students into the streets.
    — Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 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
  • On the other hand, mulch made from organic materials is typically more affordable up front, but needs replenishing every few years as organic mulch decomposes and thins out.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The cartilage between bones often thins more rapidly after age 60, too, leaving the femur and tibia with less cushioning, so the separation between the bones lessens or disappears.
    — Aaron Steckelberg, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of thins
Verb
  • Measles is highly contagious and infects up to 90% of unvaccinated people who come into contact with an infected person, according to the CDC.
    — Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Research from the Diamond diversity monitor has revealed the scale of the UK TV industry’s working class problem, and found that the problem infects both the upper and lower echelons of the sector.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Oct. 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 14 Nov. 2026.

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