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.
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Recent Examples of dams
Matt Schooley, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
Crews would build dams in a 13,000-acre area, and fill with the site with water brought in through pipes from the Sacramento River during periods of high flow.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
The dams between the river and lake make for a popular fishing spot for striped bass, largemouth bass, catfish and smallmouth bass.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
In the process, troops have taken control of two hydroelectric dams on the Euphrates, according to the Syrian Energy Ministry.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
Union members argued that the complexity of building reservoirs and dams in California warranted board members choosing a company with more experience with such projects in the state to build Sites Reservoir.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Corruption, Power And Iran’s Environmental Legacy Originally established during wartime reconstruction, Khatam has since become a dominant contractor across dams, water-transfer projects, energy infrastructure and heavy industry.
—Shooka Bidarian, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Interestingly, it can be deployed in tidal currents, free-flowing rivers without dams, or even adapted for wind energy.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
Common issues like ice dams, leaks, and clogs can all be avoided with preventative gutter maintenance.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026
Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Clear out your gutters and drains to prevent melting snow and ice from building up and causing ice dams.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
Crews would build dams in a 13,000-acre area, and fill with the site with water brought in through pipes from the Sacramento River during periods of high flow.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
The dams between the river and lake make for a popular fishing spot for striped bass, largemouth bass, catfish and smallmouth bass.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
In the process, troops have taken control of two hydroelectric dams on the Euphrates, according to the Syrian Energy Ministry.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
Union members argued that the complexity of building reservoirs and dams in California warranted board members choosing a company with more experience with such projects in the state to build Sites Reservoir.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Corruption, Power And Iran’s Environmental Legacy Originally established during wartime reconstruction, Khatam has since become a dominant contractor across dams, water-transfer projects, energy infrastructure and heavy industry.
—Shooka Bidarian, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Interestingly, it can be deployed in tidal currents, free-flowing rivers without dams, or even adapted for wind energy.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
Common issues like ice dams, leaks, and clogs can all be avoided with preventative gutter maintenance.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
-
January is breeding season for the invasive snakes in Florida, and the species is known to congregate in breeding balls on elevated levees and tree islands.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Now, though levees may not exactly be back, royal affectations and the disputes that go with them are.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Police have reported three incidents, all of them just blocks from each other in the South Shore and Grand Crossing communities.—
Natalie Goldstick,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The 24-year-old succeeds against all three levels of the pass defense, blocks well against defensive backs and even front-seven defenders and runs for yards off jet-motion touches, screens and downfield passes.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Live music fills multiple stages.—
Audrey T. Williams,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Saying yes to work that fills time but drains energy is a financial choice, whether it's labeled that way or not.—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cars were also forced off the road and shoved into embankments.—
Kathryn Prociv,
NBC news,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Decades ago, farmers built simple earthen embankments to protect their fields and livestock from seasonal flooding.—
Farshid Vahedifard,
The Conversation,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Open the oven door and remove anything that obstructs your path, like the oven racks and drawer.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rorry Portable Wireless Charger Save yourself the trouble of a dead phone with this compact Rorry portable charger, which plugs directly into your phone—no cables needed.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Dec. 2025
-
Her lending company plugs those sorts of details — student transcripts and internship experiences, for example— into an algorithm that determines the likelihood applicants will complete college, get a job and make enough money to pay back the loan.—
James Pollard,
Fortune,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Those missions are especially timely, given Chicago's unhoused population floods the system for shelter for a place to stay warm when temperatures plummet.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
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The structure floods the retina with sugar to fuel its anaerobic engine and rapidly vacuums out lactate waste, preventing the build-up of toxic byproducts in the bloodless eye.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 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 and more.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
20 Jan. 2026
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Instead, Ely packs multiple reusable water bottles, noting that many hotels as well as airports now offer convenient refill stations.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dams. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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