narrows 1 of 2

as in strait
a narrow body of water between two land masses we had to cautiously navigate our dinghy through the narrows before reaching the open water of the bay

Synonyms & Similar Words

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narrows

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of narrow

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrows
Verb
  • Alzheimer’s disease drugs Caffeine constricts blood vessels and tightens the blood-brain barrier, potentially limiting how much Alzheimer’s medication reaches the brain and reducing its therapeutic benefit.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The election result locks in another chapter of progressive representation in Congress for southern Arizona, and tightens Republicans’ majority on Capitol Hill.
    Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Alzheimer’s disease drugs Caffeine constricts blood vessels and tightens the blood-brain barrier, potentially limiting how much Alzheimer’s medication reaches the brain and reducing its therapeutic benefit.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • If Weiler’s construction provides the opportunity to see a series of fine actors at work with delicate tête-à-têtes, the neatness of the structure constricts some of the feeling.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In addition to delivering high-quality search results, this method hinders search-engine cheating; artificially boosting your web page by putting up a thousand pages linking to it won’t accomplish much if those pages have low status.
    Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2025
  • This hinders the seamless experience essential for mass EV adoption.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Also, Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau were active against the Giants, which lessens his appeal going forward.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Yes, this may still involve hurt feelings, but the risk of being misunderstood lessens.
    R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If a mental image only impedes the human’s process of emulation, why should her mindedness make Celmins’s web less natural than the spider’s?
    Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Let go of whatever impedes your growth and progress.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Posse Comitatus Act restricts the federal government’s use of military forces for law enforcement, preserving the separation between civilian and military roles.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
  • This guidance restricts access, potentially requiring prescriptions even for those who simply want to protect vulnerable family members.
    Flavia Mangan Colgan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Yet, there’s still that debt that hampers investment.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
  • His lack of strength also hampers him on defense.
    Josh Robbins, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Narrows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrows. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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