DAM Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

dam 1 of 2

noun

ˈdam

Definition of dam

as in levee

a bank of earth constructed to control water the river backed up behind the dam until it formed a new lake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

dam

2 of 2

verb

as in to block

to prevent passage through by filling with something ice floes were damming the river

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fill

to close up so that no empty spaces remain dam up the pipes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of dam

Noun

This crane had nearly gone extinct before, driven in part by an explosion of new hydroelectric dams in the early 20th century, whose construction dried out local wetlands. — Sara Herschander, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026 Water cascades over an early-1900s dam and plunges 60 feet below. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2026

Verb

These could be damming a river, suppressing natural wildfires, or suppressing beaver damage. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026 One theory is that the rock and ice briefly dammed the valley, allowing water to back up in the river. — Umesh Haritashya, The Conversation, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dam

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dam

Noun

As Reclamation District 108 leaves some fields dry, the goal will be to move a levee back so the river can spread out, restoring a natural floodplain, Bair said.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
In the winter of 2022-2023, several consecutive powerful storms led to a levee breach, which caused significant flooding along the Cosumnes River, killing three people.

— Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of levee

Verb

While not guaranteed, the appeal is likely to be taken back up by the same three-judge appellate panel who previously heard — and rejected — the administration’s emergency request to block state officials from counting the ballots.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Carefully placed to take full advantage of ocean views but not block them, the buildings seem not so much on the land as embedded within it.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of block

Noun

The trains involved were operated by AVE and Iryo, according to local media, with at least two carriages said to have fallen down an embankment after the crash.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
The cause of the crash, which sent parts of both trains down a rural embankment, was not immediately clear.

— José Bautista Carlos Barragán José Bautista James McManagan, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of embankment

Verb

Sponsored by District 3 Commissioner Nicole Massiah, the measure defines camping as using public space for private living accommodations in a manner that obstructs public access or blocks entryways and exits to public property for extended periods.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
The suspect was booked into Sacramento County Main Jail on suspicion of a felony charge of making criminal threats, and misdemeanor allegations of exhibiting a deadly weapon and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of obstruct

Verb

California voters face a crowded November ballot packed with questions on taxes, special elections and environmental rules.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2026
The service is seeking industry proposals for software that could help arrange the complex systems packed inside its next-generation SSN(X) attack submarine.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of pack

Verb

The post was quickly removed after a wave of criticism flooded her comment section.

— Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
The era of agentic AI has arrived, but there is uncertainty about what the landscape will look like when virtual storefronts become flooded with AI agents or when a business tries to block them.

— Kevin Williams, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of flood

Verb

As to authenticating that low odometer reading, Weaver assures that plugging a reader into its transmission revealed the exact mileage.

— Howard Walker, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026
Each console was tested in the device's performance mode while plugged directly into power, with the only difference being the resolution.

— Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of plug

Browse Nearby Words

dallying

dam

damage

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Dam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dam. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of dam

noun

verb

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