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.

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

Once you’re above the residential lots, you’ll see pipes along the way, carrying water down the hill, along with occasional trailside poison oak.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2026

Meanwhile, the European Union plans to water down rules that would have effectively banned the sale of new combustion-engine cars from 2035.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

The National Farmers Union, which opposes the changes, had urged Labour MPs to abstain to put pressure on ministers to water down the plans.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2025

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