floodgate
noun
flood·gate
ˈfləd-ˌgāt 
1
: a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water : sluice
2
: something serving to restrain an outburst
opened the floodgates of criticism
Examples of floodgate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That decision could also open the floodgates, with schools using those entities to circumvent the cap.
—
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
The floodgates are about to open on Mark Zuckerberg in the first trailer for Aaron Sorkin‘s The Social Reckoning.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 June 2026
The floodgates opened early on Friday night at loanDepot Park.
—Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026
Wacha issued a two-out walk and the floodgates opened.
—Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for floodgate
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Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
The floodgates are about to open on Mark Zuckerberg in the first trailer for Aaron Sorkin‘s The Social Reckoning.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 June 2026
The floodgates opened early on Friday night at loanDepot Park.
—Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026
Wacha issued a two-out walk and the floodgates opened.
—Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for floodgate
Cite this Entry
“Floodgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodgate. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
floodgate
noun
flood·gate
ˈfləd-ˌgāt
: a gate (as in a canal) for controlling a body of water : sluice
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