as in aqueducts
an open man-made passageway for water
the Panama Canal opened a much easier and shorter passageway from the Atlantic to the Pacific
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Recent Examples of canals
Stockholm offers travelers exploration through cobblestone alleys that wind along canals, and colorful townhouses and cafés that have been shaped by centuries of influence since its founding as a trading port in 1252.
—
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2025
In Flagler County, numerous docks flooded and waves were topping over some seawalls along a series of canals off the Intracoastal in Palm Coast, and a few inches of tidal flooding was reported in the oceanfront community of Flagler Beach, emergency officials told the weather service.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
While Zaremba prefers topwater plugs, a soft-plastic frog is far and away the best bait for snakeheads, which lurk along the shorelines of the canals.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
Iconic sites like Venice’s canals, Florence’s art galleries, Rome’s historic landmarks, and the Amalfi Coast's picturesque towns—like Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello—become easily accessible.
—Andrea Grisdale, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2025
Percival Lowell in the 19th century was convinced Mars had canals.
—Adam Frank, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
The alternative is to explore Livorno itself, a lively Tuscan port with canals, seafood markets and easy connections to nearby vineyards.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The Bureau of Reclamation manages water resources and operates irrigation systems, dams, canals and other infrastructure in the West.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 16 Sep. 2025
These days, scenic boat tours give you a good sense of Amsterdam canals’ history, and several major annual events, including the Queens Day Parade and Gay Pride, take place on their waters (so beware of boat traffic).
—Dan Q. Dao, Architectural Digest, 8 Mar. 2025
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2025
In Flagler County, numerous docks flooded and waves were topping over some seawalls along a series of canals off the Intracoastal in Palm Coast, and a few inches of tidal flooding was reported in the oceanfront community of Flagler Beach, emergency officials told the weather service.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
While Zaremba prefers topwater plugs, a soft-plastic frog is far and away the best bait for snakeheads, which lurk along the shorelines of the canals.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
Iconic sites like Venice’s canals, Florence’s art galleries, Rome’s historic landmarks, and the Amalfi Coast's picturesque towns—like Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello—become easily accessible.
—Andrea Grisdale, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2025
Percival Lowell in the 19th century was convinced Mars had canals.
—Adam Frank, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
The alternative is to explore Livorno itself, a lively Tuscan port with canals, seafood markets and easy connections to nearby vineyards.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The Bureau of Reclamation manages water resources and operates irrigation systems, dams, canals and other infrastructure in the West.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 16 Sep. 2025
These days, scenic boat tours give you a good sense of Amsterdam canals’ history, and several major annual events, including the Queens Day Parade and Gay Pride, take place on their waters (so beware of boat traffic).
—Dan Q. Dao, Architectural Digest, 8 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canals
Noun
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For millennia, qanats—ingenious underground aqueducts—balanced survival with scarcity across the central plateau of Iran.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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Pipes are painted like tree trunks, flumes are supported by faux crumbling aqueducts, waterfalls gush through holes in the hulls of boats and sails hang overhead to protect from the searing sun.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Parisian-style paneling, custom millwork, and soaring ceilings transport you to the City of Light, while the expansive windows beyond spotlight the surrounding waterways.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
21 Oct. 2025
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Days later, police pulled his body from Buffalo Bayou — part of the city’s 2,500 miles of waterways — and about a mile and a half upstream from where two roommates last saw him alive, according to his cousin, Lauren Freeman.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Canals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canals. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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