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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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
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
Verb
-
Breaking from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and creating a new County department should not mean building another costly layer of bureaucracy that dilutes resources meant for people in crisis.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
Now, Perez said branches are leaving the union because of high turnover in retail banking, which dilutes the original union-supporting staff and allows the company to re-educate new hires with anti-union talking points.—
Chase Jordan
April 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The delivery person just loads the food and selects the room number.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The world's largest car carrier, BYD ''Shenzhen'', loads over 7,000 BYD new energy commercial vehicles at Haitong Terminal in Taicang Port Area, Suzhou Port, and sets sail for Brazil in Taicang City, Jiangsu Province, China, on April 27, 2025.—
Evelyn Cheng,Matthew Chin,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These systems charge when electricity is cheap and feed power back during peak hours, which cuts reliance on the most expensive generation and keeps prices more stable.—
Tom Von Essen,
New York Daily News,
3 May 2026
-
The video then cuts to two Apache helicopters whirling up.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
2 May 2026
Verb
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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
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Runoff pollutes water used to irrigate crops and provide water for livestock.—
Abraham Nunbogu,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a traditional Japanese handle, a wa-style handle, the tang thins out into a strip of metal that’s completely buried in a cylindrical or octagonal wood handle.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 May 2026
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Steam thins mucus and eases congestion, per the same PMC/NIH trial.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The former is caused by bacteria that infects the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord, which can lead to inflammation.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Mumps infects the salivary glands below the ears.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waters down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waters%20down. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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