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
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Moreover, the amount of water that ultimately reaches Bangladesh is significantly reduced because dam activities by China and India have limited the flow.
—Pintu Kumar Mahla, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 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
But the government also conducted emergency evacuations during the weekend after local authorities failed to plan ahead for flooding caused by the overflow of the Cauto del Paso dam, in the province of Granma, and the Cauto River, along Granma and Las Tunas.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Moreover, the amount of water that ultimately reaches Bangladesh is significantly reduced because dam activities by China and India have limited the flow.
—Pintu Kumar Mahla, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 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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Despite the downgrade, the storm unleashed catastrophic damage—particularly in New Orleans, where storm surge overwhelmed levees and flooded more than 80% of the city.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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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
Verb
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Violence has intensified, humanitarian aid remains blocked, and political prisoners, including my mother, remain behind bars.—
Kim Aris,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
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And most seniors have been blocked from accessing the drugs, because Medicare is legally barred from covering weight-loss drugs.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Dodgers could add Tucker to fill the massive hole in their outfield.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Beijing — When Ho Puay-peng first visited Beijing’s Forbidden City in the late 1980s, the Singaporean architect saw many of the historic courtyards used for storage, filled with garbage, and occupied by danwei (government offices).—
Fred He,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Under the cover of night, a flotilla of boats, some of them commandeered from local fishermen, tried to cross the Dnipro and land on the embankment near the plant, according to three Ukrainian military officers involved in the planning and execution of the assault.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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The driver then returned to the correct lane but hit the embankment, causing the vehicle to flip on its side.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan is facing federal charges for allegedly obstructing agents trying to arrest an undocumented immigrant.—
John Diedrich,
jsonline.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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But the detectives thought there was evidence to support a charge for obstructing an officer—a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to nine months in jail—because Ryan had planted physical evidence meant to mislead them.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In 2011, a Muslim militant blew himself up in a mosque at a police compound in Cirebon packed with officers during Friday prayers, injuring 30 people.—
NPR,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
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These under-$30 advent calendars pack plenty of festive fun.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Construction fines at the site For Smith, the biggest concern was flooding in his backyard.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Nov. 2025
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Theories range from the Fitzgerald striking a shoal and suffering bottom damage to flooding through the freighter's hatch covers, which filled the ship with water and sank it, to rogue waves, to structural flaws in the ship that the 1975 storm made deadly.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Prisoners tend to use more due to flushing various items and, often, intentionally plugging toilets and overflowing them, according to industry publication Correctional News.—
Penny Weaver,
Arkansas Online,
30 Oct. 2025
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Use caulk to plug openings around windows, doors, and utility pipes entering your house.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dam. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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