water down

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.

Article 2 of the framework commits the UK not to water down human rights provisions, underpinned by EU law, that flow from the Good Friday Agreement.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

“It’s like the restaurant that starts to water down the soup,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Both Berlin and Italy also helped pressure the EU to water down its 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars -- a decision again opposed, unsuccessfully, by France.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

“Broadcasters should not feel pressured to water down, sanitize, or avoid critical coverage out of fear of regulatory retaliation.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026

She tasted it, then said, “Joey, if you slip anymore, school just might let you slip away like water down a drain and the class will continue on as if you never existed.”

From "Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" by Jack Gantos