as in levees
a bank of earth constructed to control water
the embankment is steep, so be careful walking along the ridge
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Recent Examples of embankments
In the wake of the 2007 settlement, tents began to appear on the sidewalks, freeway embankments, overpasses, underpasses, civic plazas and public spaces everywhere in Los Angeles.
—
Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The East River Residence, which is suspended on thin columns, stretches across the valley like a bridge between two embankments, letting the terrain flow underneath it like water.
—New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2026
Lupines flourish in ditches and on highway embankments—especially north of Duluth along Highway 61, the Minnesota scenic byway that traces Lake Superior's north shore.
—Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Midwest Living, 20 Apr. 2026
On embankments, consider using pieces of large wood chips interspersed with rock, gravel, paving stones or any other inorganic material.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
It was shortened again by the construction of embankments in 1835 or 1836 and in 1838.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Mar. 2026
Breakfast patios overlook rafters drifting by; anglers cast from stone embankments; kayakers practice freestyle moves at the whitewater park in the middle of it all.
—Ted Alvarez, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
Steep embankments, streams, and pond banks require extra caution.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
But the flooding would be less powerful than at the old site, Wing said, and its impact could be lessened by elevating the hospital or building earthen embankments.
—Brett Kelman, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The East River Residence, which is suspended on thin columns, stretches across the valley like a bridge between two embankments, letting the terrain flow underneath it like water.
—New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2026
Lupines flourish in ditches and on highway embankments—especially north of Duluth along Highway 61, the Minnesota scenic byway that traces Lake Superior's north shore.
—Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Midwest Living, 20 Apr. 2026
On embankments, consider using pieces of large wood chips interspersed with rock, gravel, paving stones or any other inorganic material.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
It was shortened again by the construction of embankments in 1835 or 1836 and in 1838.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Mar. 2026
Breakfast patios overlook rafters drifting by; anglers cast from stone embankments; kayakers practice freestyle moves at the whitewater park in the middle of it all.
—Ted Alvarez, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
Steep embankments, streams, and pond banks require extra caution.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
But the flooding would be less powerful than at the old site, Wing said, and its impact could be lessened by elevating the hospital or building earthen embankments.
—Brett Kelman, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embankments
Noun
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The Stillaguamish Tribe has been buying riverfront land in its traditional territory and removing levees to turn farmland into wetland with the hope of restoring Chinook.—
John Ryan,
NPR,
3 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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Government officials have redirected the river’s water from Isfahan to Yazd and other neighboring provinces for agricultural and industrial use, leaving the riverbed surrounding Si-o-Se Pol dry for most of the year, apart from periods when dams are opened to irrigate wheat fields east of Isfahan.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
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For the first time, golden mussels, an invasive species of tiny mollusks that can rapidly reproduce and cause millions of dollars in damage to pipes, drinking water plants, irrigation systems and dams — sparking growing concerns across California — have been found in Santa Clara County.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embankments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embankments. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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