water down

verb

watered down; watering down; waters down
Synonyms of water downnext

transitive verb

: to reduce or temper the force or effectiveness of
watered down the plan
watered-down
ˈwȯ-tərd-ˈdau̇n How to pronounce water down (audio)
ˈwä-
adjective

Synonyms of water down

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Examples of water down in a Sentence

watered down the cocktails while jacking up their prices
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
There was a 200-yard stretch of fast water down through a rocky neck where the water left the lake. — Marc Terziev, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2026 But consumer advocates watch with dismay as some of those ideas are gutted or watered down. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 21 June 2026 But there may be more hoops to jump through to qualify for the pre-order deal, or it may be watered down, Lanzuk claims. — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026 Wait five minutes, and then pour another gallon of water down the drain to flush out any remaining mold. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for water down

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of water down was in 1811

Rhymes for water down

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Browse Nearby Words

water dog
water down
water dragon
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Cite this Entry

“Water down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20down. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on water down

Nglish: Translation of water down for Spanish Speakers

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