waters down
Makes less potent
To water down is to dilute with water, weakening a drink or solution: The bartender waters down the cheap whiskey.
More often figurative—to soften or reduce the force of something: The committee watered down the proposal until it was toothless.
Watered-down criticism pulls its punches; a watered-down version lacks the original's strength.
Reducing density or number
- dilutionReduction in concentration
- adulteratesCorrupts by adding impurities
- extendsIncreases in scope
- dilutingLessening strength by mixing
attenuates · dissolves · mixes · blends · thins · cuts · stretches · weakens
Makes unclean or impure
- pollutesIntroduces harmful substances
- adulteratesCorrupts by adding impurities
- corruptsCauses moral decline
- degradesDiminishes in quality
spoils · impairs · compromises · fouls · infects · poisons · debases · cheapens
thinning
Reducing density or number
- dilutionReduction in concentration
- adulteratesCorrupts by adding impurities
- extendsIncreases in scope
diluting · attenuates · dissolves · mixes · blends · thins · cuts · stretches · weakens · reduces
contaminates
Makes unclean or impure
- pollutesIntroduces harmful substances
- adulteratesCorrupts by adding impurities
- corruptsCauses moral decline
degrades · spoils · impairs · compromises · fouls · infects · poisons · debases · cheapens · defiles
undermines
Weakens by stealth
- compromisesSettlements through mutual concession
- diminishesBecomes smaller or weaker
- softensReduces intensity or hardness
tempers · moderates · dulls · blunts · lessens · reduces · defangs · neuters · sanitizes · censors
waters downconcentrates
Directs sustained attention
strengthens · fortifies · intensifies · enriches · thickens
waters downstrengthens
Increases force or durability
emphasizes · amplifies · heightens · sharpens · punches up
water, down, watered, watering, watery, wateriness, downer, downward, downwards