Watery — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈwȯ-tə-rē/ wa·tery

Meaning & Definition of Watery

Watery (adjective)

  1. consisting of, filled with, or surrounded by water
  2. containing, sodden with, or yielding water or a thin liquid
  3. resembling water or watery matter especially in thin fluidity, soggy texture, paleness, or lack of savor

Watery (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water

    "the soft, watery earth of the marshland"

    similar: awash, bathed, bedraggled, doused, drenched, dripping, logged, saturate, saturated, soaked, soaking, sodden, soggy, sopping, soppy, soused, washed, water-soaked, watered, waterlogged, wet
    related: deluged, drowned, flooded, inundated, overflowed, submerged, swamped, hydrated, dipped, dunked, splashed, aqueous, steeped, flushed, irrigated, laved, rinsed, sluiced, clammy, damp, dampish, dank, humid, moist, semimoist, wettish, boggy, miry, seepy, sloppy, squashy
    opposite: arid, dry, unwatered, waterless
    near: bone-dry, hyperarid, ultradry, waterproof, water-repellent, water-resistant, watertight, baked, dehydrated, freeze-dried, droughty, parched, sere, sunbaked, thirsty, wrung

  2. having an overly soft liquid consistency

    "watery oatmeal"

    similar: runny, soupy
    related: flowing, fluent, fluid, liquefied, dilute, diluted, thin, thinned, watered-down, weak, weakened, sloshy, slushy, soggy, waterlogged, wet
    near: ropy, syrupy, viscid, viscous, creamy, heavy, thick, thickened, thickish, gelatinous, gluey, glutinous, gooey, gummy, sticky

  3. not containing very much of some important element

    "a watery lemonade"

    similar: dilute, diluted, thin, thinned, washy, weak, weakened
    related: adulterated, watered-down
    opposite: full-bodied, rich, strong
    near: enriched, fortified, concentrated, condensed, evaporated

  4. lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character

    "political correctness has resulted in a lot of history books being written in very watery prose"

    similar: banal, flat, insipid, milk-and-water, namby-pamby, wishy-washy
    related: unexciting, uninspiring, unrewarding, bland, boring, drab, dreary, dry, dull, heavy, humdrum, jading, leaden, lifeless, monotonous, pedestrian, ponderous, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, vapid, wearisome, weary, wearying, inane, innocuous, inoffensive, mild, soft, subdued, tame, weak, common, commonplace, ordinary, stale, unexceptional
    near: piquant, poignant, pungent, racy, spicy, meaty, substantial, entertaining, exciting, galvanizing, inspiring, invigorating, thrilling

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Watery

The most common words with a similar meaning to Watery:

awash, bathed, bedraggled, doused, drenched, dripping, logged, saturate, saturated, soaked, soaking, sodden, soggy, sopping, soppy, soused, washed, water-soaked, watered, waterlogged, wet, runny, soupy, dilute, diluted, thin, thinned, washy, weak, weakened, banal, flat, insipid, milk-and-water, namby-pamby, wishy-washy

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Watery

Words with the opposite meaning of Watery:

arid, dry, unwatered, waterless, full-bodied, rich, strong

Related Words for Watery

deluged, drowned, flooded, inundated, overflowed, submerged, swamped, hydrated, dipped, dunked, splashed, aqueous, steeped, flushed, irrigated, laved, rinsed, sluiced, clammy, damp, dampish, dank, humid, moist, semimoist, wettish, boggy, miry, seepy, sloppy

Near Antonyms of Watery

bone-dry, hyperarid, ultradry, waterproof, water-repellent, water-resistant, watertight, baked, dehydrated, freeze-dried, droughty, parched, sere, sunbaked, thirsty, wrung, ropy, syrupy, viscid, viscous, creamy, heavy, thick, thickened, thickish, gelatinous, gluey, glutinous, gooey, gummy

Word Forms of Watery

Derived words: waterily (adverb), wateriness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Watery

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Watery

a watery grave

Frequently Asked Questions about Watery

What does "Watery" mean?

"Watery" means consisting of, filled with, or surrounded by water. As an adjective, it is defined as: consisting of, filled with, or surrounded by water. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Watery"?

Other words for "Watery" include awash, bathed, bedraggled, doused, drenched, dripping, logged and saturate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Watery" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Watery"?

There are 112 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Watery". Common alternatives include awash, bathed, bedraggled, doused, drenched, dripping, logged, saturate, saturated and soaked.

What is the opposite of "Watery"?

Antonyms of "Watery" include arid, dry, unwatered, waterless, full-bodied, rich and strong. Near antonyms include bone-dry, hyperarid, ultradry and waterproof.

How do you use "Watery" in a sentence?

Examples of "Watery" in a sentence: "the soft, watery earth of the marshland"; "watery oatmeal"; "a watery lemonade".

Is "Watery" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Watery" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Watery"?

"Watery" is pronounced /ˈwȯ-tə-rē/ and divided into syllables as wa·tery.

What is the origin of the word "Watery"?

First known use: before 12th century.