as in levees
a bank of earth constructed to control water
the river backed up behind the dam until it formed a new lake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in blocks
to prevent passage through by filling with something
ice floes were damming the river
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fills
to close up so that no empty spaces remain
dam up the pipes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dams
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Jan. 2026
Work on the ground after a fire needs to happen quickly — within the first few years — and designing and constructing dams can take time and be expensive.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
The measure would tie spending of the new revenue directly to master plans the city has adopted in recent years for libraries, parks, dams and other infrastructure priorities, Barrios said.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025
However, their current population cannot build enough dams quickly enough to restore waterways damaged by human activity.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
Still, the extent of the 1955 flood energized calls for better flood protections, including new dams, larger reservoirs and bolstered levees.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 2025
Initial projects will include water harvesting dams and land reclamation initiatives, according to a Reuters report.
—Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
Poor ventilation can trap moisture, promote mold growth or even cause ice dams in cold weather.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
As divided as the country was fifty years ago, things seemed to fall into place in the months leading up to July 4, with Americans getting a nightly history refresher via CBS’s Bicentennial Minutes and everything from fire hydrants to giant dams painted in the red, white and blue.
—Verb
Glacial outburst floods happen when the ice dams holding back glacial lakes fail, allowing a sudden release of water.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for dams
Noun
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January is breeding season for the invasive snakes in Florida, and the species is known to congregate in breeding balls on elevated levees and tree islands.—
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Now, though levees may not exactly be back, royal affectations and the disputes that go with them are.—
Verb
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The order now blocks a previous ruling by a Rhode Island judge that required the payments to be paid out by Friday night, NBC News notes.—
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If the customer does not recognize the purchase, the bank blocks the transaction.—
Verb
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Rock is eroded from the higher-elevation land into the basin, which also fills with the organic remains of plants and animals.—
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Much as Cornell did, Anderson fills every inch of space available, whether in his film frames or immersive installations.—
Noun
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Decades ago, farmers built simple earthen embankments to protect their fields and livestock from seasonal flooding.—
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In Prague, large concrete blocks have been placed along popular embankments and around key foot-traffic areas, while police have increased patrols to monitor potential targets.—
Verb
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Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
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Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
Verb
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Rorry Portable Wireless Charger Save yourself the trouble of a dead phone with this compact Rorry portable charger, which plugs directly into your phone—no cables needed.—
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Her lending company plugs those sorts of details — student transcripts and internship experiences, for example— into an algorithm that determines the likelihood applicants will complete college, get a job and make enough money to pay back the loan.—
Verb
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The other will take the easy route, churning out generic content that floods the market but doesn’t resonate with customers.—
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Downpours could close some parking areas at the Fashion Valley Mall in Mission Valley, which often floods in heavy rain.—
Verb
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Roughly half the size of a penny, the ISOCELL HP5 packs 200 million pixels into an extremely compact footprint.—
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Our expert take The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.—
Cite this Entry
“Dams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dams. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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