1
as in blocking
to prevent passage through by filling with something
ice floes were damming the river
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in filling
to close up so that no empty spaces remain
dam up the pipes
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of damming
Designed for a valley miles away from the Sacramento River, the reservoir would pump water through an underground pipe connecting to the river, rather than damming and trapping its water supply.
—
Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The more Austinites have expanded the surface area of lakes — by damming up the Colorado River with various degrees of success from 1893 to 1960 — the more moisture was available to evaporate into the air.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 4 Jan. 2026
But a combination of river damming, habitat destruction, overfishing and pollution has caused numbers of the southern residents’ preferred prey, Chinook salmon, to plummet since the 1980s.
—Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 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
That can help identify whether your home is at risk of ice dams, and lead to insulation upgrades and other services to mitigate ice damming in the future.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 11 Dec. 2025
The authors further emphasize that behaviors such as waterfall climbing may be especially vulnerable to environmental pressures, including habitat fragmentation and river damming.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2025
Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The more Austinites have expanded the surface area of lakes — by damming up the Colorado River with various degrees of success from 1893 to 1960 — the more moisture was available to evaporate into the air.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 4 Jan. 2026
But a combination of river damming, habitat destruction, overfishing and pollution has caused numbers of the southern residents’ preferred prey, Chinook salmon, to plummet since the 1980s.
—Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 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
That can help identify whether your home is at risk of ice dams, and lead to insulation upgrades and other services to mitigate ice damming in the future.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 11 Dec. 2025
The authors further emphasize that behaviors such as waterfall climbing may be especially vulnerable to environmental pressures, including habitat fragmentation and river damming.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damming
Verb
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Harper logged seven minutes across two shifts, blocking one shot.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
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Minnesota and the Twin Cities filed a lawsuit aimed at blocking the deployment of immigration agents.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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With dogma filling school days, students aren’t being educated and are left intellectually unprepared for much but obedience.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
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Working as an assistant in her sister-in-law’s empanada business, Cocson developed her own creation, filling the pastry with homemade longganisa sausage, shredded papaya, mung bean sprouts and an egg.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After attempting one-man rule and declaring martial law, he was judged guilty of obstructing democracy.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Jan. 2026
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Charges related to animal cruelty and neglect, concealed carry of a weapon, obstructing official business and falsification are pending.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Holding space for your interests, priorities and life circumstances is good offense, but a crazy job market also requires strong career defense, such as plugging up your financial foundation and skill gaps.—
Caroline Ceniza-Levine,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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These systems can be purchased for a fraction of the price of rooftop panels and can be as simple to use as plugging into an existing electrical outlet.—
Calvin Ball,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Many travelers at Detroit Metro Airport are packing some extra patience with much uncertainty at the gate due to the nationwide dreadful winter weather.—
Julia Avant,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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Though not what many would think of when packing a car, kitty litter can come in handy for anyone who experiences a winter weather emergency on the roads.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Damming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damming. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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