What does "watergate" mean?
A gate opening onto water, or only or mainly accessible by water.
Watergate
/ˈwɑtəɹˌɡeɪt/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A gate opening onto water, or only or mainly accessible by water.
- Grammar: watergate is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: apartment complex, building complex, complex, cover-up.
- Useful contrasts: accountability, honesty, integrity.
- Usage evidence: Nixon tried to stonewall through Watergate by ignoring it, but it didn't work.
How to use "watergate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "watergate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "watergate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "watergate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "watergate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "watergate" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "apartment complex" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "watergate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A gate opening onto water, or only or mainly accessible by water.
- 2 Alternative form of water gate. alt-of, alternative
Verb
- 1 To treat in a manner reminiscent of the Watergate scandal. transitive
- 2 Alternative form of Watergate. alt-of, alternative
- 3 To engage in activities associated with the Watergate scandal. intransitive, rare
Proper Noun
- 1 An American political scandal (beginning with a burglary in the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC, in 1972) that eventually led to the resignation of US President Richard Nixon.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Nixon tried to stonewall through Watergate by ignoring it, but it didn't work."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "watergate"?
Common synonyms include: apartment complex, building complex, complex, cover-up, metonym, political scandal.
How do you use "watergate" in a sentence?
Nixon tried to stonewall through Watergate by ignoring it, but it didn't work.
How do you pronounce "watergate"?
Pronounced /ˈwɑtəɹˌɡeɪt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From the name of the Watergate Hotel; the complex itself was named after the "Water Gate" area where symphony orchestra concerts were staged on the Potomac River between 1935 and 1965.
Etymology 2
From Middle English watergate, wateregate, watur-ȝate, equivalent to water + gate.