Synonyms of canal

canal

noun

kə-ˈnal 

as in aqueduct

an open man-made passageway for water

the Panama Canal opened a much easier and shorter passageway from the Atlantic to the Pacific

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aqueduct
• waterway
• river
• watercourse
• conduit
• flume
• racecourse
• raceway
• channel
• course
• gutter
• spillway
• sluice
• floodway
• stream
• millrace
• millstream
• torrent
• sluiceway
• trough
• rivulet
• tideway
• swash

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of canal

Much of it flows through the Central Arizona Project, the series of canals that run from the river to the Phoenix and Tucson areas. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Both ships were sitting at anchor near the mouth of the Sulina canal that connects the Black Sea to the Danube River, which has become a crucial shipping export route for Ukraine, Reuters reported. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026

This 2-plus-hour ride follows the Hocking River past canal locks, wooded hillsides, and quaint small towns, with blazing maples and oaks. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 15 Oct. 2026

According to Clarksons, 36 percent of container capacity routed via the canal or the Cape of Good Hope traversed the Suez in early October, up from 8 percent between 2024 and mid-2026. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026