as in levees
a bank of earth constructed to control water
the embankment is steep, so be careful walking along the ridge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 embankments
Decades ago, farmers built simple earthen embankments to protect their fields and livestock from seasonal flooding.
—
Farshid Vahedifard, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
In Prague, large concrete blocks have been placed along popular embankments and around key foot-traffic areas, while police have increased patrols to monitor potential targets.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
Today’s handover of 20,000 polysacks—used to reinforce embankments & slow floodwaters—to the Government of Sri Lanka builds on our recent handover of communication equipment & reflects our ongoing commitment during this challenging time.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
To many locals, the Los Angeles River — hugged by concrete embankments and heavy vehicle traffic — hardly seems like a river at all.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 17 Nov. 2025
Family, friends and spectators line the embankments, looking down from pedestrian bridges and the underpasses, holding up signs and cheering.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Scruton and his team had a weekend to remove the trees, mud, dirt and embankments.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Already, the High-Speed Rail Authority, which has been building the embankments, bridges, tunnels and grade separations needed for the train over the last decade, like an overpass just completed in Fresno, has begun ordering steel and other materials needed to finally begin laying tracks.
—Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Farshid Vahedifard, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
In Prague, large concrete blocks have been placed along popular embankments and around key foot-traffic areas, while police have increased patrols to monitor potential targets.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
Today’s handover of 20,000 polysacks—used to reinforce embankments & slow floodwaters—to the Government of Sri Lanka builds on our recent handover of communication equipment & reflects our ongoing commitment during this challenging time.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
To many locals, the Los Angeles River — hugged by concrete embankments and heavy vehicle traffic — hardly seems like a river at all.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 17 Nov. 2025
Family, friends and spectators line the embankments, looking down from pedestrian bridges and the underpasses, holding up signs and cheering.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Scruton and his team had a weekend to remove the trees, mud, dirt and embankments.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Already, the High-Speed Rail Authority, which has been building the embankments, bridges, tunnels and grade separations needed for the train over the last decade, like an overpass just completed in Fresno, has begun ordering steel and other materials needed to finally begin laying tracks.
—Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embankments
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
Noun
-
Common issues like ice dams, leaks, and clogs can all be avoided with preventative gutter maintenance.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The situation is not all that different from that along the Mississippi, Missouri or Tennessee rivers, where a series of dams controls water flow.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embankments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embankments. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
