watered-down

[waw-terd-doun, wot-erd-]

adjective

1. made weaker or less effective from or as from dilution with water.

   a watered-down cocktail; Spectators saw a watered-down version of the famous opera.

Word History and Origins

Origin of watered-down¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Most of them are “watered-down versions” of Musk’s own “broken promises,” in the words of Tech Crunch, one of the few tech news sites to have carefully analyzed the pay package.

From Los Angeles Times

It would be like the pope abruptly announcing that the doctrine of transubstantiation is nonsense; it’s just a cracker and a cup of watered-down wine.

From Salon

The watered-down Minimalism that wormed its way into radio and TV commercials won’t go away.

From Los Angeles Times

Martin and the vice chairs “have aimed to blunt the power of the resolution on Gaza by introducing their own, watered-down resolution that stops far short of calling for an end to arms shipments to Israel,” my RootsAction colleague Sam Rosenthal pointed out.

From Salon

Although many of the rebels backed down once the government made major concessions, Leishman remained in steadfast opposition to the watered-down bill and voted against it.

From BBC