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
One unforgettable highlight was taking a Winter Park scenic boat tour through lakes connected by canopied, tranquil canals.
—
Linnea Bailey, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
Venice, the historic Italian city known for its canals that serve as water traffic corridors, has been said to be sinking for nearly a century.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Starting about the time hardwood trees sprout buds and baby foliage (or shortly after ice out in the North), crappies gather near the mouths of creeks, shallow bays, manmade canals, and marinas.
—Cory Schmidt, Outdoor Life, 15 Apr. 2026
The eels are particularly prevalent in the box-cut canals common across Southeast Florida, and can be frequently found in Little Manatee River and Bullfrog Creek drainages close to Tampa, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
—Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Rumors swirled that production of the show would leave iconic Venice Beach — known for its creative shops and eateries, flex-happy Muscle Beach, its familiar boardwalk and its canals based on its namesake, Venice, Italy.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Following Idaho’s warmest winter on record and below-normal snowpack, Caldwell officials are warning residents who water their lawns from Caldwell Municipal Irrigation District canals of the need to restrict their outside water usage.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 14 Apr. 2026
Lovely and rich in history, Bruges is famous for its canals, stone bridges, and quaint pubs, painting a charming backdrop for a couple of excellent performances in a film that is quite heavy, but also shockingly funny.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Villas and suites are decorated with ornate teak and rattan furnishings, and come with private pools and views overlooking tropical gardens, canals, and mountains.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
Linnea Bailey, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
Venice, the historic Italian city known for its canals that serve as water traffic corridors, has been said to be sinking for nearly a century.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Starting about the time hardwood trees sprout buds and baby foliage (or shortly after ice out in the North), crappies gather near the mouths of creeks, shallow bays, manmade canals, and marinas.
—Cory Schmidt, Outdoor Life, 15 Apr. 2026
The eels are particularly prevalent in the box-cut canals common across Southeast Florida, and can be frequently found in Little Manatee River and Bullfrog Creek drainages close to Tampa, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
—Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Rumors swirled that production of the show would leave iconic Venice Beach — known for its creative shops and eateries, flex-happy Muscle Beach, its familiar boardwalk and its canals based on its namesake, Venice, Italy.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Following Idaho’s warmest winter on record and below-normal snowpack, Caldwell officials are warning residents who water their lawns from Caldwell Municipal Irrigation District canals of the need to restrict their outside water usage.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 14 Apr. 2026
Lovely and rich in history, Bruges is famous for its canals, stone bridges, and quaint pubs, painting a charming backdrop for a couple of excellent performances in a film that is quite heavy, but also shockingly funny.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Villas and suites are decorated with ornate teak and rattan furnishings, and come with private pools and views overlooking tropical gardens, canals, and mountains.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canals
Noun
-
Picnic in the shadow of ancient aqueducts.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Students learn how their water travels from the Sierra Nevada through reservoirs, pipes and aqueducts to finally end up in their homes.—
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Tucked between multiple waterways surrounding Christiansted, the island’s capital city, Undercover Books makes a concerted effort to offer its visitors more than escapism.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
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Reznik said while the San Gabriel River system and adjacent spreading grounds, stretching from Irwindale to Long Beach, work exceptionally well, capturing 90% of the local runoff that percolates into underground basins for later use, that’s not true of some other waterways in the county.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canals. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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