as in canals
an open man-made passageway for water
the Erie Canal was superseded by a much larger waterway, the New York State Barge Canal
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Recent Examples of waterways
The waterways of the Columbia River basin, full of dams that corral salmon in tight spaces, are just too easy of a hunting ground for the sea lions to spurn.
—
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
The state also has an above average number of polluted waterways and more coal ash ponds — small, toxic water bodies near coal plants where poisonous refuse is discarded — than any other state.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 6 Jan. 2026
Matthew Adler also called for more regulations on Florida waterways, noting there are far fewer rules for people operating boats than operating cars, the Independent reported.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
How can winter salt impact the waterways?
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
In addition, critics argue the law does little to stem balloon debris ending up in the Long Island Sound or the state’s other waterways.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
The low pressure system is forecast to bring strong southerly winds, generating storm surge that will help contribute to minor to moderate coastal flooding near shorelines and tidal waterways around San Francisco Bay, and from north of Point Reyes southward to Big Sur along the coast.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
The Coast Guard is the primary federal authority responsible for inspecting commercial riverboats on the nation's inland waterways.
—Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025
As a precaution, the district continues to advise residents to avoid contact with waterways in southwest Jefferson County, including Northern Ditch, Southern Ditch and Pond Creek, which runs down to the Salt River.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Nov. 2025
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
The state also has an above average number of polluted waterways and more coal ash ponds — small, toxic water bodies near coal plants where poisonous refuse is discarded — than any other state.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 6 Jan. 2026
Matthew Adler also called for more regulations on Florida waterways, noting there are far fewer rules for people operating boats than operating cars, the Independent reported.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
How can winter salt impact the waterways?
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
In addition, critics argue the law does little to stem balloon debris ending up in the Long Island Sound or the state’s other waterways.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
The low pressure system is forecast to bring strong southerly winds, generating storm surge that will help contribute to minor to moderate coastal flooding near shorelines and tidal waterways around San Francisco Bay, and from north of Point Reyes southward to Big Sur along the coast.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
The Coast Guard is the primary federal authority responsible for inspecting commercial riverboats on the nation's inland waterways.
—Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025
As a precaution, the district continues to advise residents to avoid contact with waterways in southwest Jefferson County, including Northern Ditch, Southern Ditch and Pond Creek, which runs down to the Salt River.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waterways
Noun
-
Only accessible by boat or plane, the park consists of canals, rainforests, and lagoons that are home to manatees, jaguars, and countless other wildlife species.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
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The canals and pond, which were aggregately 193,000 cubic meters in volume and appear to have no practical purpose, would have taken 255,000 days of labor by a single individual.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Workers excavated parts of the route with explosives and built locks and aqueducts along 363 miles of canal.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Completed eight years later, the canal stretched some 363 miles (584 kilometers), with 18 aqueducts and 83 locks to compensate for elevation changes en route.—
Matthew Smith,
The Conversation,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waterways.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waterways. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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