as in to direct
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway
channelized all of his resources into winning that state's crucial primary
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Recent Examples of channelize
When work began, parts of the Creek had been fully channelized, other portions covered by development, others existing as nothing more than trash and weed choked trickles.
—
Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Those changes include channelizing the bay in some places and transforming it into dunes and marshland in others.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
The statement is in effect until 8 p.m. Caught in a rip: How to stay safe
Rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2025
As a response to this, in the 1960s, the city added more concrete, channelizing the river in the hopes of getting runoff away from neighborhoods to Lake Michigan as fast as possible.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024
Draining wetlands and channelizing the Sprague River to enable cattle ranching and agriculture has taken its toll on the region.
—Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Draining wetlands and channelizing the Sprague River to enable cattle ranching and agriculture has taken its toll on the region.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 12 Oct. 2024
Wild Los Angeles Los Angeles is a city of nearly 3.9 million people, with a heavily urbanized landscape that’s epitomized by its vast network of freeways and a mostly tame and channelized Los Angeles River.
—Discover Magazine, 15 June 2024
Austin and San Antonio have dammed, altered, channelized, buried and otherwise manipulated their creeks and rivers.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 13 Mar. 2024
Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Those changes include channelizing the bay in some places and transforming it into dunes and marshland in others.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
The statement is in effect until 8 p.m. Caught in a rip: How to stay safe
Rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2025
As a response to this, in the 1960s, the city added more concrete, channelizing the river in the hopes of getting runoff away from neighborhoods to Lake Michigan as fast as possible.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024
Draining wetlands and channelizing the Sprague River to enable cattle ranching and agriculture has taken its toll on the region.
—Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Draining wetlands and channelizing the Sprague River to enable cattle ranching and agriculture has taken its toll on the region.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 12 Oct. 2024
Wild Los Angeles Los Angeles is a city of nearly 3.9 million people, with a heavily urbanized landscape that’s epitomized by its vast network of freeways and a mostly tame and channelized Los Angeles River.
—Discover Magazine, 15 June 2024
Austin and San Antonio have dammed, altered, channelized, buried and otherwise manipulated their creeks and rivers.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 13 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for channelize
Verb
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The film, which released on the streamer Friday, is directed by Simon Stone and stars Knightley as Lo Blacklock alongside Guy Pearce, Art Malik, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings and Hannah Waddingham.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
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While Bob struggles to charge the low-tech phone that’ll connect him with the French 75, Sensei coordinates skateboarders as messengers and directs his relatives and employees to evacuate the dozens of migrants his family is sheltering to a nearby church.—
Robert Daniels,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Jennifer Lopez stars as a mid-century movie star, Ingrid Luna, channeling the likes of Rita Hayworth, Judy Garland, and Lana Turner.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Oct. 2025
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For menswear, the brand cited photographer Peter Beard as inspiration, channeling an intellectual-meets-bohemian aesthetic.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the summer, lush green pastures and 6-foot cornstalks hug the highway like veins funneling blood through the region.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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Propes funneled this tour’s fundraising efforts toward Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit organization that buys medical debt in large swaths with donor contributions.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
Verb
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Refrain from entering water that might carry an electric current and avoid walking through floodwaters.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Bishop led Tennessee with 146 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on 14 carries before leaving with a leg injury.—
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Also, a signature JPMorgan scent will be piped through the building.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
9 Oct. 2025
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Let’s Bring Back Fondue Night When fondue pots were at the height of their popularity in the 1970s, everyone would gather around the table in their house clogs and bell bottoms with skewers ready to dip into melty cheese, smooth chocolate, and even piping-hot oil (for cooking small hunks of meat).—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the office had quietly been moving forward, conducting confidential sessions with a grand jury that heard witnesses and resulted last week in the indictment.—
Meena Duerson,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
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Barbabella wrote in April that after conducting a comprehensive diagnostic, laboratory testing, consultations with 14 specialty consultants, the president demonstrated no abnormalities aside from minor sun damage, recommending a colonoscopy in 2027.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Channelize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/channelize. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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