as in levees
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
1
as in blocks
to prevent passage through by filling with something
ice floes were damming the river
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fills
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 dams
ABC News, 15 June 2026
Beyond being expensive to maintain, the dams are destructive to rivers, blocking fish habitat while warming the water, depleting oxygen levels and trapping sediment upstream.
—CBS News, 12 June 2026
This journey requires them to climb fish ladders over dams, navigate culverts diverting streams under roads, and ascend up to elevations of 7,000 feet.
—Idaho Statesman, 12 June 2026
If Iran normalizes threats against Gulf water infrastructure, Gulf states may view Iran’s own reservoirs, dams, power grids, and energy facilities as possible targets in return.
—Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
The deferred maintenance costs for those assets, which include roads, trails, bridges and dams, total more than $8 billion, according to the documents.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 6 June 2026
Dam Removal Europe found that the number of dams dismantled in 2025, along with other water-flow controls like weirs, culverts and sluices, grew by 11% from the year before.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 3 June 2026
Many of the dams in the USACE portfolio are over 50 years old.
—D. Hunter Reardon, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Between segments, Byrd, a shaggy-haired blonde perpetually clad in a spiderweb crochet bikini, would take calls from viewers, urge them to use condoms and dental dams, and get ready for the next performer, who would vary in gender expression and talent.
—Mike Albo, Vulture, 2 June 2026
ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Glacial outburst floods happen when the ice dams holding back glacial lakes fail, allowing a sudden release of water.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Both warring parties have increasingly launched explosive-laden drones that, in multiple cases, targeted civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, dams, schools, markets, and displacement camps.
—ABC News, 15 June 2026
Beyond being expensive to maintain, the dams are destructive to rivers, blocking fish habitat while warming the water, depleting oxygen levels and trapping sediment upstream.
—CBS News, 12 June 2026
This journey requires them to climb fish ladders over dams, navigate culverts diverting streams under roads, and ascend up to elevations of 7,000 feet.
—Idaho Statesman, 12 June 2026
If Iran normalizes threats against Gulf water infrastructure, Gulf states may view Iran’s own reservoirs, dams, power grids, and energy facilities as possible targets in return.
—Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
The deferred maintenance costs for those assets, which include roads, trails, bridges and dams, total more than $8 billion, according to the documents.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 6 June 2026
Dam Removal Europe found that the number of dams dismantled in 2025, along with other water-flow controls like weirs, culverts and sluices, grew by 11% from the year before.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 3 June 2026
Many of the dams in the USACE portfolio are over 50 years old.
—D. Hunter Reardon, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Between segments, Byrd, a shaggy-haired blonde perpetually clad in a spiderweb crochet bikini, would take calls from viewers, urge them to use condoms and dental dams, and get ready for the next performer, who would vary in gender expression and talent.
—Mike Albo, Vulture, 2 June 2026
Verb
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asked experts to study what happened at the Edenville and Sanford dams.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Glacial outburst floods happen when the ice dams holding back glacial lakes fail, allowing a sudden release of water.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dams
Noun
-
Been there as communities have tried to tame the mighty waters with levees and embankments, and battled 100-pound invasive fish.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
-
Reconnecting rivers, many of which have been restricted by levees, to seasonal floodplains can dramatically improve growth and survival for juvenile salmon and increase their resilience to climate change.—
Eric Palkovacs,
The Conversation,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Or a delivery truck that blocks a driver's view at a busy corner.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
-
The decision effectively blocks foreign governments, businesses, researchers, and individuals, as well as foreign nationals residing in the US, from using the company’s latest AI systems.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
The Cavern Club is one of the venues on 'Norwegian Epic' that regularly fills up long before the start of the show.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
Mackinac Island’s bar scene is hopping at this time of year, especially from June through Labor Day, when live music fills the pubs nearly every night of the week and crowds of visitors come to experience the island.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Riding mowers are not designed for wet conditions and are more likely to roll on embankments.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 June 2026
-
Been there as communities have tried to tame the mighty waters with levees and embankments, and battled 100-pound invasive fish.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
14 June 2026
-
Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The discovery also plugs a gap in our understanding of Venus's dense atmosphere.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
13 May 2026
-
Another distinction is its saddle and seatpost, which form a unit that plugs into a corner of the square motor/battery assembly.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This floods the market with a black box of undifferentiated output.—
Anshul Gupta,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Melatonin floods the brain and body, telling each cell that night has come.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Our expert take The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections, flexible rewards and more.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
-
The Bonza Collapsible Dog Water Bowl packs down small despite its large capacity.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dams. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
