Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Containing too much water; excessively diluted or thin: Describes liquids that are weak, thin, or less concentrated than normal, often lacking flavor or richness.
   • Relating to, resembling, or consisting of water: Describes something that has the appearance, consistency, or nature of water.
   • Filled with, secreting, or wet with water or a water-like fluid: Describes something that is damp, sodden, or producing moisture like tears or sweat.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The soup was watery and lacked flavor. (The soup was thin and tasteless.)
  • She had watery eyes after cutting the onion. (Her eyes were full of tears.)
  • The paint had a watery blue hue. (The paint had a pale, diluted blue color.)
  • After the storm, the garden soil was watery. (The soil was saturated with water.)

Advanced Usage

• "watery grave": A poetic or literary term for death by drowning.
  • The pirates feared a watery grave.
• Used to describe something weak, unconvincing, or lacking substance in a figurative sense.
  • He gave only a watery excuse for his absence. (His excuse was weak and insubstantial.)

Variants and Related Words

• Water (n/v): The liquid from which the adjective is derived; to pour water on or irrigate.
• Wateriness (n): The state or quality of being watery.
  • The wateriness of the sauce ruined the dish.

Synonyms

• Diluted: Made thinner or weaker by adding water.
• Thin: Lacking thickness, density, or strength.
• Insipid: Lacking flavor or interest.
• Pale: Light in color; weak.
• Soggy: Heavy with water; soaked.

Antonyms

• Concentrated: Made stronger or denser by removing water.
• Thick: Having a dense consistency.
• Rich: Full of flavor or substance.
• Vivid: Bright and intense in color.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Make one's mouth watery: This is a common error. The standard idiom is "make one's mouth water," meaning to cause salivation in anticipation of food. "Watery mouth" describes a physical condition of having too much saliva.
  • The smell of baking bread makes my mouth water.
  • The medicine left a watery taste in my mouth.

Adjective

1. overly diluted; thin and insipid
   • washy coffee
   • watery milk
   • weak tea
2. relating to or resembling or consisting of water
   • a watery substance
   • a watery color
3. wet with secreted or exuded moisture such as sweat or tears
   • wiped his reeking neck
4. filled with water
   • watery soil