watered-down
Less potent now
Watered-down describes something diluted or weakened from its original strength.
Literally, a watered-down drink has been thinned with water: This whiskey tastes watered-down.
More often figurative—a watered-down proposal has been softened to gain approval, losing its force in the process: The final bill was a watered-down version of the original.
Reduced in concentration
- diluteReduce by adding solvent
- weakenedMade less capable
- adulteratedDiluted with inferior substances
- cutSeverance or reduction
reduced · mixed · extended · stretched · lessened · diminished · attenuated · tempered
Suppressed from publication
- bowdlerizedEdited out indecencies
- expurgatedRemoved objectionable material
- softenedMade less severe
- toned-downMade less extreme
dumbed-down · simplified · compromised · neutered · defanged · edited · abridged · moderated
Weak and ineffective
- ineffectualFailing to achieve purpose
- ineffectiveLacking power to achieve
- impotentLacking power or efficacy
- toothlessHaving no teeth
gutless · spineless · limp · flimsy · anemic · pallid · wishy-washy · half-hearted
Lacking distinctive qualities
- flavorlessHaving no taste
- tastelessHaving no flavor
- vapidDull, without depth
- flatLacking vertical variation
dull · uninspired · lifeless · stale · unexciting · uninteresting · tedious · jejune
thinned
Reduced in concentration
- diluteReduce by adding solvent
- weakenedMade less capable
- adulteratedDiluted with inferior substances
cut · reduced · mixed · extended · stretched · lessened · diminished · attenuated · tempered · moderated
censored
Suppressed from publication
- bowdlerizedEdited out indecencies
- expurgatedRemoved objectionable material
- softenedMade less severe
toned-down · dumbed-down · simplified · compromised · neutered · defanged · edited · abridged · moderated · family-friendly
feeble
Weak and ineffective
- ineffectualFailing to achieve purpose
- ineffectiveLacking power to achieve
- impotentLacking power or efficacy
toothless · gutless · spineless · limp · flimsy · anemic · pallid · wishy-washy · half-hearted · namby-pamby
bland
Lacking distinctive qualities
- flavorlessHaving no taste
- tastelessHaving no flavor
- vapidDull, without depth
flat · dull · uninspired · lifeless · stale · unexciting · uninteresting · tedious · jejune · pallid
- bland thingsbland, dull, flat, plain, tasteless
- Bowdlerizedcensored, redacted, sanitized, expurgated, cleaned
- half-measuresband-aid, token effort, lip service, stopgap, quick fix
- Drink Descriptorsfresh, stale, smooth, crisp, bold
- futilefutile, useless, pointless, fruitless, vain
- strength wordsstrong, powerful, mighty, potent, robust
watered-downuncompromising
Refusing to yield ground
robust · strong · bold · hard-hitting · unadulterated
water, watery, watered, watering, waters, waterless, hydrate, hydration, waterworks