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the Erie Canal was superseded by a much larger waterway, the New York State Barge Canal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of waterways
In west Carteret and coastal Onslow counties, the NWS warned of up to 2 feet of inundations above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways that could result in property damage.
—
Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Wildlife officials in Ohio have announced that 116 rare and endangered eastern hellbenders were released into the state’s waterways this summer, marking an important conservation milestone for the species.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
Smith Mountain Lake is the centerpiece of Smith Mountain Lake State Park, which boasts peaceful coves and waterways, as well as more than a dozen scenic hiking trails and a swimming beach.
—Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
Marco Aguilera, the Fort Lauderdale chief waterways officer, applied for the grant, which will cover 75 percent of eligible expenses for five years.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
For the Coastal Flood Warning, up to 2 to 4 feet of inundation above ground level is possible in some areas near shorelines and tidal waterways resulting in an elevated threat of property damage around the times of high tide.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2025
Up to one half foot of saltwater inundation above ground level is possible near shorelines and tidal waterways.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Because of its position on vital waterways, Union and Confederate troops fought several key battles at Harpers Ferry, leaving the town virtually destroyed.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
These include autonomous inspections in areas too dangerous for humans, like under spans or over waterways.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Wildlife officials in Ohio have announced that 116 rare and endangered eastern hellbenders were released into the state’s waterways this summer, marking an important conservation milestone for the species.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
Smith Mountain Lake is the centerpiece of Smith Mountain Lake State Park, which boasts peaceful coves and waterways, as well as more than a dozen scenic hiking trails and a swimming beach.
—Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
Marco Aguilera, the Fort Lauderdale chief waterways officer, applied for the grant, which will cover 75 percent of eligible expenses for five years.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
For the Coastal Flood Warning, up to 2 to 4 feet of inundation above ground level is possible in some areas near shorelines and tidal waterways resulting in an elevated threat of property damage around the times of high tide.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2025
Up to one half foot of saltwater inundation above ground level is possible near shorelines and tidal waterways.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Because of its position on vital waterways, Union and Confederate troops fought several key battles at Harpers Ferry, leaving the town virtually destroyed.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
These include autonomous inspections in areas too dangerous for humans, like under spans or over waterways.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waterways
Noun
-
In Flagler County, numerous docks flooded and waves were topping over some seawalls along a series of canals off the Intracoastal in Palm Coast, and a few inches of tidal flooding was reported in the oceanfront community of Flagler Beach, emergency officials told the weather service.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
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While Zaremba prefers topwater plugs, a soft-plastic frog is far and away the best bait for snakeheads, which lurk along the shorelines of the canals.—
Steve Waters,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For millennia, qanats—ingenious underground aqueducts—balanced survival with scarcity across the central plateau of Iran.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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Pipes are painted like tree trunks, flumes are supported by faux crumbling aqueducts, waterfalls gush through holes in the hulls of boats and sails hang overhead to protect from the searing sun.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waterways.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waterways. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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