watered-down
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of watered-down
First recorded in 1895–1900
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
High inflation allows debtors to repay loans with watered-down dollars.
From Barron's • May 30, 2026
Serkis’ “Animal Farm” wastes no time confirming suspicions that it’s a watered-down version of Orwell’s dystopic classic.
From Salon • May 3, 2026
But the BMA ended the talks saying the deal - and in particular the pay progression element - had been watered-down at the last minute.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
A watered-down definition, meanwhile, could end up allowing certain ultraprocessed foods to fly under the radar, especially if food companies find a way to get around whatever UPF definition or label is proposed.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026
He will remember eating watered-down curry off paper plates, sometimes pizza or Chinese ordered specially for the kids.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
