as in embankment
a raised bank or wall made of soil
—usually plural
prehistoric earthworks
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Recent Examples of earthwork
Residents allege that approving earthwork without a site plan prevents meaningful public review and undermines environmental and infrastructure protections, court documents state.
—
Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
According to those standards and Google Earth elevation data, that could require earthwork to raise the ground of the Unicoi site by at least 8 feet and as much as 18 feet before construction.
—Brett Kelman, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The backstory People have been drawn to these magical 40 acres for centuries– the name comes from a Narragansett earthwork that once stood here, which to European settlers resembled a castle.
—Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Feb. 2026
As the seat of the Kingdom of Benin, the city was renowned for monumental earthworks and extraordinary bronze artistry.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for earthwork
Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
According to those standards and Google Earth elevation data, that could require earthwork to raise the ground of the Unicoi site by at least 8 feet and as much as 18 feet before construction.
—Brett Kelman, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The backstory People have been drawn to these magical 40 acres for centuries– the name comes from a Narragansett earthwork that once stood here, which to European settlers resembled a castle.
—Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Feb. 2026
As the seat of the Kingdom of Benin, the city was renowned for monumental earthworks and extraordinary bronze artistry.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for earthwork
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earthwork
Noun
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Delaware Task Force One, multiple fire departments, and tow companies worked for hours to strategically pull the truck up from an embankment.—
Joe Brandt,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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Riding mowers are not designed for wet conditions and are more likely to roll on embankments.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The best are those on top floors with views of the pool or Caribbean Sea beyond city ramparts—uninterrupted for over 500 miles north to Jamaica.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
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Our stroll began outside the medieval gate—only residents can drive through the stone ramparts—and ended with an aperitif on the square.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The infantrymen around him peeped painfully over the heap of dirt that substituted for a breastwork.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Simply speaking, much of our levee on private data is becoming obsolete.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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The tool is exclusively used by public safety agencies during natural disasters — including flash floods, wildfires, and levee or dam breaches — and other widespread public safety hazards to alert the public to evacuate.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
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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,
Idaho Statesman,
12 June 2026
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Hull Street has bought and sold dozens of dams and power plants across the US since its formation in 2014.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The ditch by the plant is connected to a dike system that runs through the city of Longview, which has a population of around 37,000, Stanfield said.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
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Constructing protective structures such as levees and dikes can help, as can preserving natural landscapes, such as wetlands and estuaries that can act as a natural sponge to absorb floodwaters, in and near the cities, Shao and her colleagues wrote.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The city is also looking at water circulation around the pier, specifically how the breakwater changes the environment, Parry said.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
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The shark was apparently first found wedged in rocks by the breakwater at Salty Brine State Beach in Galilee, but then the shark freed itself and started swimming in circles.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Republican voters, the bulwark of the president’s political power, appear similarly exasperated.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
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The civilization of love will not arise from a single or spectacular gesture, but from the sum total of small and steadfast acts of fidelity that serve as a bulwark against dehumanization.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Earthwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earthwork. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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