Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

throw cold water on

VERB
depress
Synonyms
STRONGEST
afflict beat down bother damp dampen daunt discourage dishearten dismay dispirit disturb dull lower reduce sadden sap slow trouble upset weaken weigh down
STRONG
abase ail beat bug chill cow darken debase debilitate degrade desolate devitalize distress drag drain enervate faze mock mortify oppress perturb press scorn torment try weary
WEAK
bear down bum out cast down keep under put down reduce to tears run down turn one off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist cheer comfort delight encourage hearten help increase inspirit make happy order please raise strengthen
STRONG
activate admire approve calm elevate energize exalt flatter honor improve invigorate praise soothe upgrade
WEAK
excite lift push up stimulate uplift
VERB
deter
Synonyms
STRONGEST
avert block dampen daunt discourage dissuade forestall frighten hinder impede intimidate obstruct preclude prevent prohibit restrain scare stop
STRONG
caution chill cool damp debar divert forfend obviate warn
WEAK
act like a wet blanket disadvise put a damper on put off rule out shut out stave off talk out of
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist encourage facilitate forward hearten help incite inspirit permit promote push support
STRONG
heat warm
WEAK
instigate persuade put on to stimulate turn on urge
VERB
discourage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alarm bother confuse dampen daunt demoralize depress dismay frighten intimidate irk scare trouble unnerve
STRONG
abash afflict awe bully chill cow dash deject deprecate disparage distress droop overawe prostrate repress try vex weigh
WEAK
beat down break one's heart cast down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist assure calm comfort encourage gladden hearten help inspirit make happy please reassure soothe stimulate uplift
STRONG
allow approve commend compliment laud praise
WEAK
inspire spur on
VERB
discourage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
curb frighten hinder impede inhibit prevent scare
STRONG
check chill control deprecate discountenance disfavor disincline divert indispose interfere obstruct quiet repress shake warn withhold
WEAK
disadvise hold back hold off keep back put off talk out of turn aside turn off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist calm comfort encourage facilitate forward help
STRONG
approve let go permit support
WEAK
hearten inspire inspirit spur on
VERB
dissuade
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deter discourage divert faze prevent thwart warn
STRONG
counsel deprecate derail disincline exhort expostulate hinder prick remonstrate
WEAK
advise against caution against chicken out cry out against disadvise lean on persuade not to put off throw a wet blanket on throw off turn off urge not to
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist encourage help
WEAK
incite persuade talk into
VERB
prohibit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ban block constrain enjoin forbid freeze halt hinder impede inhibit outlaw preclude prevent proscribe restrain restrict rule out
STRONG
cool cork debar disallow forfend hamper interdict kill nix obstruct spike stymie taboo veto
WEAK
bottle up box in bring to screeching halt gridlock hang up hold up jam up keep lid on lock up pass on put a lock on put a stopper in put chill on put down put half nelson on shut out tie up zing
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow approve assist continue facilitate forward free help include let go permit push release support
STRONG
encourage promote
WEAK
favor
VERB
repress
Synonyms
STRONGEST
crush inhibit muffle quash quell restrain squelch stifle subdue subjugate suppress
STRONG
bottle chasten check collect compose control cool cork curb hinder kill lock master overcome overpower rein shush silence smother swallow
WEAK
black out gridlock hold back jam up keep in keep in check keep under wraps quelch simmer down tie up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid allow assist encourage free help let go liberate release start
STRONG
disperse permit scatter surrender yield
VERB
sadden
Synonyms
STRONGEST
discourage dishearten dispirit grieve
STRONG
dash deject deplore desolate distress down oppress press
WEAK
break one's heart bring one down bum out cast down dampen spirits drag down make blue put a damper on put into a funk turn one off weigh down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
encourage hearten inspirit
STRONG
aid assist delight help
WEAK
cheer gladden make happy

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.

"Most things we do to a virus makes it weaker or not work as well, or maybe you're trying to engineer it for therapeutics, and I'd hate to see somebody throw cold water on that."

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2025

Sightings like Sunday’s help keep the urban legend alive, but experts throw cold water on the sewer theory.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 20, 2023

“We wouldn’t want it to throw cold water on the value of participating in the count,” Ward said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2023

Or just throw cold water on a cheerful employee.

From Washington Post • Jan. 15, 2023

In your last letter you throw cold water on my proposed journey to Hamburg; and perhaps you are right in thinking the coup I planned not so great and critical as I have been imagining.

From Dreamers of the Ghetto by Zangwill, Israel