1
as in dams
a bank of earth constructed to control water
the raging floodwaters were too much for the levee to handle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in docks
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers
we tied the boat up at the levee and started unloading the fish we had caught
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 levees
As levees erupted, storm waters easily flowed in.
—
Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Although more expensive and labor-intensive, the practice replaces much of the Central Valley’s roughly 500,000 acres of rice with temporary wetlands during the winter, a semblance of how the land would naturally function without dams, and levees and civilization.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
But when the levees failed, thousands of people were trapped inside as supplies dwindled and conditions deteriorated quickly.
—Sarah Alegre, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
In addition to subsidies, there were millions more to clean up flood debris, shore up the levees, and fix roads and drainage systems.
—Molly Parker, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
And even before the storm made landfall, the levees protecting New Orleans began to fail, overwhelmed by heavy rain and massive storm surges.
—Reena Advani, NPR, 1 Sep. 2025
Soon thereafter, multiple levees and floodwalls failed.
—Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The levees, meant to hold back the surging waters, failed catastrophically.
—Mandi Wright, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Hurricane Katrina killed nearly 1,400 people and submerged most of the city after the storm breached vulnerable levees.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025
Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Although more expensive and labor-intensive, the practice replaces much of the Central Valley’s roughly 500,000 acres of rice with temporary wetlands during the winter, a semblance of how the land would naturally function without dams, and levees and civilization.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
But when the levees failed, thousands of people were trapped inside as supplies dwindled and conditions deteriorated quickly.
—Sarah Alegre, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
In addition to subsidies, there were millions more to clean up flood debris, shore up the levees, and fix roads and drainage systems.
—Molly Parker, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
And even before the storm made landfall, the levees protecting New Orleans began to fail, overwhelmed by heavy rain and massive storm surges.
—Reena Advani, NPR, 1 Sep. 2025
Soon thereafter, multiple levees and floodwalls failed.
—Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The levees, meant to hold back the surging waters, failed catastrophically.
—Mandi Wright, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Hurricane Katrina killed nearly 1,400 people and submerged most of the city after the storm breached vulnerable levees.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for levees
Noun
-
Although more expensive and labor-intensive, the practice replaces much of the Central Valley’s roughly 500,000 acres of rice with temporary wetlands during the winter, a semblance of how the land would naturally function without dams, and levees and civilization.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Shortly after the last of the dams was removed, freeing the Klamath's free flow in late 2024, the salmon that naysayers said would take years to journey past the old reservoirs appeared upstream almost overnight.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But Everton’s arrival in an area blighted by the decline of those same docks has brought genuine hope of a spectacular revival.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Some properties are pet-friendly, and others come with boat docks.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
The infrastructure humans build in the water ‒ houses, piers, wharves, jetties, and even oil rigs ‒ create new habitats for juvenile jellyfish, called polyps, to attach and grow, Bologna said.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers into rip currents, piers, jetties, and other hazardous areas.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Later phases will include a disc golf course, a dog park, fishing piers, kayak and paddleboard access, a bird watching area, a hammock pole area and a lake deck, according to Rawn.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Seaports will have nearby seabed dredged and quays constructed to accommodate naval and transport vessels.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Levees.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/levees. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share