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
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2
as in wharves
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
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Recent Examples of levees
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
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
Declines in groundwater levels have in recent years caused household wells to sputter and run dry, streams and wetlands to dry up, and land to sink, damaging canals and levees.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
But farming communities nationwide have been adversely affected by the president's tariff policy, as global trading partners scaled back agricultural purchases like soybeans in retaliation for higher levees.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
California legislators on Tuesday voiced their support for Senate Bill 872 — a bill aimed at reinforcing Delta levees and the State Water Project by directing $300 million annually to the state’s water infrastructure upgrades and repairs.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Those canals, levees and roads broke up the natural flow of the water.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
To reshape the Mountain View pond and reinforce levees against sea-level rise and storm surges, crews imported 180,000 cubic yards of fill dirt from local construction sites.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
The channel is meant to boost flood control and replace aging levees built in the wake of the 1949 flood.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2026
John Ryan, NPR, 3 May 2026
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
Declines in groundwater levels have in recent years caused household wells to sputter and run dry, streams and wetlands to dry up, and land to sink, damaging canals and levees.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
But farming communities nationwide have been adversely affected by the president's tariff policy, as global trading partners scaled back agricultural purchases like soybeans in retaliation for higher levees.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
California legislators on Tuesday voiced their support for Senate Bill 872 — a bill aimed at reinforcing Delta levees and the State Water Project by directing $300 million annually to the state’s water infrastructure upgrades and repairs.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Those canals, levees and roads broke up the natural flow of the water.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
To reshape the Mountain View pond and reinforce levees against sea-level rise and storm surges, crews imported 180,000 cubic yards of fill dirt from local construction sites.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
The channel is meant to boost flood control and replace aging levees built in the wake of the 1949 flood.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for levees
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
The wharves and warehouses along Pratt Street burned fiercely.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
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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
-
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,
New Atlas,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Make the short drive north to the 150-year-old fishing village of Mayport to feast on local shrimp alongside working fishing docks bustling with boats delivering the daily catch.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
-
Cabin rentals, boat docks and a general store also are available to visitors, according to the park’s website.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Anyone who’s seen 2021’s Riverside Main Library, an equally futuristic building elevated on piers, will recognize the Geffen as a distant cousin.—
David Allen,
Daily News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Expensive stainless steel on the outer layer of rebar on the piers in the sea help prevent corrosion.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wine is embedded in the city’s architecture, history and daily life, from grand 18th-century façades to the bustling quays of the Garonne.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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According to Vantor, the image shows the construction of a dry dock and new quays and piers at one of China’s most strategically important bases.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Levees.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/levees. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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