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
Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Notably, Arctic Water Bank, a startup, planned to build a dam to capture meltwater and export it internationally.
—Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
Evan Bush, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
On the tower’s other side, boundless flats of sand and cracked mud spread to the horizon across what was, prior to the river’s damming a century ago, one of Earth’s great green estuaries.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dam
Noun
The sky is the limit now that this dam has broken.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Notably, Arctic Water Bank, a startup, planned to build a dam to capture meltwater and export it internationally.
—Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
But starting more than a century ago, people began to dam and straighten many of them for drinking water, flood control and hydropower.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
On the tower’s other side, boundless flats of sand and cracked mud spread to the horizon across what was, prior to the river’s damming a century ago, one of Earth’s great green estuaries.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dam
Noun
-
Her home backs up to Gallinas Creek, where the only thing standing between it and the water is a small earthen levee.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The new space, directly in front of the Trinity River levees and the miles of open space behind them, lends a feeling of fresh air to the ambient surroundings.—
Benjamin Lima
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
However, in Spain, totality occurs shortly before sunset, meaning hills, mountains, or buildings might block the view.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Separately, the season's first heavy snowfall blocked multiple roads leading to Murree, a hill station about 37 miles northeast of Islamabad.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In Fort Worth, Auberge Resorts Collection recently debuted Bowie House, filled with more than 700 works of art from the owner’s private collection.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
In Spanish Harlem there was always a clutter of folk standing on the sidewalk, watching and paying witness to days filled with mayhem.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Hyundai then left the road, traveled up an embankment and struck a large rock, police said.—
Kendrick Calfee
Updated January 10,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
-
After locating handgun ammunition in the SUV, Burbank PD used a helicopter and police dog named Spike to locate Alas along a steep embankment along the freeway.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Organizers stressed that legal observers are there to witness and document, not to negotiate with agents or to obstruct.—
Laurie Perez,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Lake Superior and Lake Michigan are expected to experience high waves and damaging ice accumulation onto vessels, and central Michigan is under a flood warning due to ice jams that could obstruct the waterways, causing flooding, according to the NWS.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Her dreams of late had all been like this, trying to pack without a bag or leave the house without her keys, trying to read without her contacts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Replete with fast cars, boats, guns, explosions and huge vaults, the teaser packs a lot into 90 seconds.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The space, a former artist’s studio turned residence, opens directly onto the street and is crowned by a transom window that floods the interior with natural light.—
Nicolas Milon,
Architectural Digest,
13 Jan. 2026
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Fans have since flooded the comment section of the December video, with many pointing out that, in retrospect, Sarah cooking for herself was a subtle hint at the pair's divorce.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The budget request comes as lawmakers make cuts to programs like Medicaid to plug a $400 million hole in this year's budget and $850 million shortfall next year.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Fields is viewed as a plug-and-play replacement for All-Big 12 safety Bud Clark, one of the best defenders in program history.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dam. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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