as in to direct
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway
the director of the charity should be canalizing the flow of donations so that the money ends up where it is most needed
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Recent Examples of canalize
Some became conscious of the role a state could play in intervening in the economy in order to curb and canalize democracy.
—
Zeev Sternhell, Slate Magazine, 7 Apr. 2017
Zeev Sternhell, Slate Magazine, 7 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canalize
Verb
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The candidates themselves seemed low-energy, even with their jabs — which were largely directed at Becerra, as Mark said.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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Another incident identified by police allegedly occurred on March 27, when Berrios-Otero allegedly motioned for a 4-year-old child to sit on his lap and directed him to get a blanket, according to the warrant affidavits.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Fighters — draped in elaborate costumes and protective charms believed to ward off injury and channel spiritual power — perform to the beat of sabar drums, emphasizing the sport’s spiritual side, which for many is as important as the fight itself.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
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The brand’s signature French elegance really shines in this crossbody bag, thanks to its turtledove leather exterior, gold-tone hardware, and fold-over flap closure that channels true European sophistication.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Upstream from Upper Klamath Lake, a key tributary was channelized and wetlands drained, resulting in massive amounts of phosphorus flowing into the Upper Klamath Lake and, eventually, the lower river.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
29 Dec. 2025
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The Army Corps of Engineers channelized and paved the once-meandering river.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The debate came just hours after his former aide, Dana Williamson, pled guilty to her part in a scheme to funnel $225,000 in funds from Becerra’s dormant campaign account to the former health secretary longtime chief of staff, Sean McCluskie.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
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Second, Wall Street firms were the among the first employers to exploit universities’ new career-services offices, which helped to funnel a large and diversifying population of women, white ethnics, and minoritized graduates into finance careers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
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But by using this dramatic white ribbon and just piping a few scrolls on top, your cake automatically just looks very fancy.—
Emily Elias,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
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Unlike a pump that's designed specifically to supply diesel to a generator, the NTSB said the flushing pump, which was designed to clear fuel out of piping for maintenance, didn't have redundancies and couldn't restart automatically after an outage.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The outbreak linked to the MV Hondius began after the Dutch cruise ship, carrying 147 passengers and crew members, departed Argentina on April 1 for a South Atlantic voyage.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
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The Knicks’ wings have carried their defense throughout this playoff run.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, police officers conducted street searches of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year, the vast majority of whom were Black or Latino and had not committed a crime.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Officials said additional testing will be conducted at a national laboratory.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canalize. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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