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
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1
as in to block
to prevent passage through by filling with something
ice floes were damming the river
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dam
Colin Meyn, The Hill, 9 Oct. 2025
In Golestan province, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds failed to arrive this autumn, with drought and upstream dams pushing the region toward ecological collapse.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Eleanor Dearman
updated August 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Aug. 2025
One of Alaska's most populated cities is bracing for potentially catastrophic flooding as a basin dammed within the Mendenhall Glacier has started to release rainwater and snowmelt downstream, according to officials.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dam
Noun
Egypt and Ethiopia have long been at loggerheads over Ethiopia’s construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on a Nile tributary, which began in 2011 and was completed this year.
—Colin Meyn, The Hill, 9 Oct. 2025
In Golestan province, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds failed to arrive this autumn, with drought and upstream dams pushing the region toward ecological collapse.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
The project, which has been discussed for decades, would dam the Sulphur River, flooding tens of thousands of acres of ranchland, forest, pasture and wetlands in parts of Red River, Titus and Franklin counties.
—Eleanor Dearman
updated August 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Aug. 2025
One of Alaska's most populated cities is bracing for potentially catastrophic flooding as a basin dammed within the Mendenhall Glacier has started to release rainwater and snowmelt downstream, according to officials.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dam
Noun
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Most of those rescues happened on the east side of Vallecito Creek, where a levee break caused rapid flooding.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
12 Oct. 2025
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Yolo County officials are urging motorists to use caution on South River Road, a levee-top roadway that stretches from West Sacramento to the Freeport Bridge along the Sacramento River, due to shoulder erosion that has created hazardous driving conditions.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But Ayton has skill, a silky jumper, smooth footwork and a giant frame that can block off the paint on the other end.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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After a week of chaos and confusion, as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees described it, the fates of more than 600 workers hang in the balance now that a federal judge has temporarily blocked their terminations.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On the play Warner got hurt, the 49ers were missing a right defensive end, and coaches mistakenly assumed practice-squad call-up Trevis Gipson stayed on the field to fill that role after racing down on kickoff coverage and making the initial hit on a tackle.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
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So does Stagier Bar, with creations like dumplings filled with lomo saltado, a Peruvian dish of sautéed beef that hints at the chef Joel Baeza’s Latin American roots.—
Emilio Parra Doiztua,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The front of the school bus, meanwhile, was entangled with a tree in the embankment, the body of the bus tilted completely to one side.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
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Three years ago this week, Hardy was on his way back from a concert in Bristol, Tennessee, when his tour bus careened off the road and rolled down an embankment.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Yet this claim conceals the fact that registration is swift for compliant unions but obstructed for independent ones.—
Sourcing Journal,
Sourcing Journal,
15 Oct. 2025
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Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, condemned the protest, characterizing it as an attempt to obstruct law enforcement operations.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cucumber water isn’t just a refreshing spa drink; it’s also packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients that can boost your health.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
17 Oct. 2025
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Canned Salmon Canned salmon is a protein-rich food that’s packed with omega-3 fats, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Several structures are flooded.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
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Bold hues are the name of the game, whether this means going for the kind of saturated, chili pepper–adjacent red that flooded the runways of labels like Ferragamo or embracing autumn’s fascination with all things deep purple, courtesy of an earrings pair that pays homage to the humble eggplant.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At the trade deadline, Cashman plugged big holes at third base, the bench and in the bullpen by obtaining Ryan McMahon, Jose Caballero, Amed Rosario, David Bednar and Camilo Doval.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
12 Oct. 2025
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Private credit lenders and other alternative investment funds have stepped in to plug the funding gap left by traditional investment banks, whose lending standards were tightened up in the aftermath of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dam. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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