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the Erie Canal was superseded by a much larger waterway, the New York State Barge Canal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
Relevance
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 waterways
India’s ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, the hosts of the weeklong event, has laid out both a medium- and long-term roadmap to propel the South Asian nation into a maritime powerhouse.
—
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2025
North Bay Road is divided by waterways into three parts, and residents of each section are considering pursuing their own tax district.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Vessels like Navier’s — ones that are efficient, stable, adaptable, and capable of being mass-produced as commercial platforms, while forming the foundation of a dual-use strategy — are the key to reopening America’s waterways for people and commerce.
—Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025
Beyond the immediate area, grease can travel long distances through waterways, spreading pollution and damaging habitats far from the source.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
The couple explored waterways in Britain and abroad while Scales grappled with her dementia.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
The pair explored the waterways, both in Britain and around the world, for 10 seasons across five years until 2019.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Enjoying a swimming hole in the summer is a prime Vermont pastime, but the state's waterways are just as magical in the colder months.
—Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
He was later found dead in the Buffalo Bayou, which is part of the city's 2,500 miles of waterways.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2025
North Bay Road is divided by waterways into three parts, and residents of each section are considering pursuing their own tax district.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Vessels like Navier’s — ones that are efficient, stable, adaptable, and capable of being mass-produced as commercial platforms, while forming the foundation of a dual-use strategy — are the key to reopening America’s waterways for people and commerce.
—Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025
Beyond the immediate area, grease can travel long distances through waterways, spreading pollution and damaging habitats far from the source.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
The couple explored waterways in Britain and abroad while Scales grappled with her dementia.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
The pair explored the waterways, both in Britain and around the world, for 10 seasons across five years until 2019.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Enjoying a swimming hole in the summer is a prime Vermont pastime, but the state's waterways are just as magical in the colder months.
—Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
He was later found dead in the Buffalo Bayou, which is part of the city's 2,500 miles of waterways.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waterways
Noun
-
Each resort also features modern fitness centers within the setting of lush mangrove forests and freshwater canals alongside the Caribbean Sea.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Forgetting Derry’s communal traumas is as much a part of the town’s firmament as the scenic canals, the nearby Air Force base where Charlotte’s hubby Leroy (Jovan Adepo) has been newly posted, and the dilapidated house at 29 Neibolt Street.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share