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

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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 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
  • Furthermore, using standard drones introduces downwash from the propellers, which stirs up and dilutes the gas plumes required for measurement.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026
  • Amid shrinking recognition, the Tibetan exile community also faces a brain drain to the West, where assimilation dilutes their culture.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026
Definition of dilutes
Verb
  • Reddick loads her genre-blurring tale with outlandish intrigue involving Soviet spies, a capitalist cult and a roving choir that doubles as a Greek chorus.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Intelligent power switches can monitor electrical flow while controlling loads more efficiently.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of loads
Verb
  • Unlike a razor, which simply cuts hair at the surface, an epilator removes it from the root by mechanically plucking multiple hairs at once.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 17 July 2026
  • The headline feature across the lineup is Air Fry Max which, according to Samsung, delivers crispy results without the need to preheat and cuts cooking times by up to 15% compared to the Air Fry modes found on previous-gen models.
    — Paul Lamkin, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of cuts
Verb
  • Unless the energy powering data centers comes from clean energy sources, such as solar, wind or geothermal, generating that electricity also pollutes the air.
    — Ed Maibach, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
  • Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Definition of pollutes
Verb
  • Whether the fabric thins or the loop texture flattens after any cleaning attempt — the point to stop and call an upholstery professional.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Fewer shifts, less overtime, a paycheck that thins while your job title stays the same.
    — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of thins
Verb
  • Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water.
    — Savannah Peters, Fortune, 18 July 2026
  • Cyclospora outbreak spans dozens of states Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the intestinal tract and can cause prolonged diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, bloating and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Definition of infects

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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 26 Jul. 2026.

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