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 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
  • Instead, the new exhibit dilutes the story of slavery by surrounding it with material that has little to do with the President’s House at all, such as biographies of individual Founders and the ins and outs of various constitutional structures.
    — John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026
  • The salt dilutes in the water so that the berries won’t absorb any salinity during the brief soak.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
Definition of dilutes
Verb
  • The servicer knows where to attach, what loads the hook can bear and what its cameras can use as landmarks.
    — Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 22 July 2026
  • The robot also loads a plate into a dishwasher and adjusts a hospital-style bed.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
Definition of loads
Verb
  • But because Abundance cuts across the conventional left-right axis, New York politicians left, right, and center can all be on the wrong side of it.
    — Ryder Kessler, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
  • Extortion in Mexico is a multibillion-dollar racket that cuts across economic sectors and is linked to organized crime.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of cuts
Verb
  • 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
  • New rules require hundreds of businesses to clean up runoff from large parking lots that pollutes creeks and beaches.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of pollutes
Verb
  • Anyone who’s on an anticoagulant, anything that thins your blood or prevents you from having a blood clot, should talk with a pharmacist or healthcare provider first to double-check which supplements interact with those types of medications.
    — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 26 July 2026
  • 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
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

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 3 Aug. 2026.

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