watered-down
/ˌwɔːtəd ˈdaʊn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌwɔːtərd ˈdaʊn/ (ame, ipa)
watered-down — adjective
1. An idea, proposal, or piece of writing that has been deliberately made less forc
An idea, proposal, or piece of writing that has been deliberately made less forceful or less extreme than the original version, usually to avoid upsetting people or to gain acceptance.
The environmental group refused to support what it called a watered-down climate bill.
collocation: watered-down + bill / proposal / law
After negotiations, the company issued a watered-down apology that omitted any mention of wrongdoing.
Mira read the watered-down version of the report and wondered what the original had contained.
Many voters felt the watered-down tax reform did little to help working families.
The watered-down safety rules were dismissed by critics as a win for the mining industry.
- toned-down
closer to reducing rhetorical or stylistic intensity, not necessarily betraying the original
- diluted
less common in figurative use; more clinical and technical
- weakened
more general; can describe any loss of strength, not just deliberate softening
- tempered
suggests a controlled, purposeful reduction to achieve balance
- strong
the opposite of intentionally weakened
- forceful
describes language or ideas delivered with conviction
- uncompromising
refusing to soften or moderate
用法筆記
Commonly modifies nouns such as version, proposal, bill, law, apology, plan, and rules. The implied criticism is that the original was sacrificed to avoid conflict.
常見錯誤
watered-down — verb
- watered-downpresent simple I / you / we / they
- watered-downs3rd person singular
- watered-downing-ing form
- watered-downedpast simple
1. To deliberately weaken an idea, statement, proposal, or set of rules by removing
To deliberately weaken an idea, statement, proposal, or set of rules by removing its strongest or most demanding parts, often so that a wider range of people will accept it.
The committee watered down the original proposal to win support from both parties.
transitive: water down + noun phrase (proposal / plan / standard)
Critics said the government had watered down the regulation until it was completely meaningless.
The final draft was watered down after the publisher worried about offending readers.
Politicians often water down their campaign promises once they take office.
The school board watered down the policy after parents said it was too strict.
The original plan was so ambitious that the team had to water it down to get approval.
Never let the committee water down your research findings to fit their political agenda.
- dilute
the closest synonym; slightly more formal and also retains its literal liquid meaning
- weaken
more general; can apply to physical objects or abstract concepts
- soften
suggests making something less harsh without necessarily reducing its core content
- tone down
focuses on reducing the level of force or intensity of language or behaviour
- strengthen
to make something stronger or more forceful
- toughen
to make rules or policies stricter
- intensify
to increase the degree or force of something
文法句型
water down + noun phrase
be watered down to + infinitive
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice (be watered down) to focus on the result rather than the agent. The object is typically an abstract noun: a proposal, plan, rule, standard, promise, or piece of legislation.