water down

verb

watered down; watering down; waters down

transitive verb

: to reduce or temper the force or effectiveness of
watered down the plan
watered-down adjective

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.
Her father and Davila stayed behind to water down their house and the wooden deck. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025 Listen to this article An effort by opponents of Mayor Brandon Johnson to water down Chicago’s sanctuary city ordinance faltered in the City Council Wednesday, a victory for the mayor as his administration prepares for the looming threat of deportations under incoming President Donald Trump. Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025 Traces of 2024’s Western trend are still present in collections, though watered down compared to the directional styles seen from Louis Vuitton. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 13 Jan. 2025 Getty Images For some, any move to water down or delay the EU’s tougher carbon rules would be the same as scrapping the regulation altogether. Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near water down

Cite this Entry

“Water down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20down. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on water down

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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