dams 1 of 2

noun

plural of dam
as in levees
a bank of earth constructed to control water the river backed up behind the dam until it formed a new lake

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dams

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of dam
1
as in blocks
to prevent passage through by filling with something ice floes were damming the river

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fills
to close up so that no empty spaces remain dam up the pipes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 dams
Noun
Water that isn’t trapped in dams or pulled from wells or rivers eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. — Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 2026 As opposed to beavers that build dams and lodges, block streams and divert and channel water, these beavers dig underwater into the bank of the reservoir and access their burrows through underground tunnels. — Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 14 Aug. 2026 However, dams severely disrupt aquatic ecosystems by blocking migratory paths to historic spawning grounds, fragmenting species populations, and trapping crucial nutrients. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026 Nearly all the power that does exist comes from hydropower dams concentrated in the cyclone-prone south, hundreds of miles from demand in the capital. — Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 During much of the 2010s, Beijing poured billions of dollars into in Latin American infrastructure, such as ports, massive dams, and even a transcontinental railway meant to link Peru’s Pacific coast to Brazil’s Atlantic. — Natalia Cote-Muñoz, Foreign Affairs, 3 Aug. 2026 The Bureau of Reclamation, which manages dams along the river, now plans to provide an additional $100 million for water conservation programs in the four upstream states, paying farmers and ranchers who agree to use less. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026 But the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 shifted federal spending priorities toward national defense and power-generating dams, delaying flood-control measures such as levees designed to protect low-lying communities like Argentine. — Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026 Because California is the nation’s largest agricultural producer and most populous state, demand for water is high, and wildlife often suffers when water from dams is diverted to farmland. — Velvet Wu july 17, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
Verb
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asked experts to study what happened at the Edenville and Sanford dams. — ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026 Glacial outburst floods happen when the ice dams holding back glacial lakes fail, allowing a sudden release of water. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dams
  1. levees
  2. blocks
  3. fills
  4. embankments
  5. obstructs
  6. plugs
  7. floods
  8. packs
Noun
  • Many residents and volunteers rushed to fill sandbags as levees leaked and threatened to cause even more damage.
    — Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Another problem human measures like dams and levees seem to have created, the team argues, is a perception of safety.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of levees
Verb
  • Webb’s infrared vision is particularly useful here because infrared light can penetrate dust that blocks much of the visible light, giving astronomers a better look at the processes taking place inside stellar nurseries.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Seminole blocks a Lake Nona 39-yard field goal attempt and Joseph Watson IV grabs the ball and takes it to the house for the go-ahead score.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of blocks
Verb
  • How quickly the bladder fills depends on several factors; therefore, there’s no hard-and-fast rule about how long people can go between bathroom trips.
    — Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Spring brings wildflowers to the mountain, while summer fills its alpine meadows with flowering herbs like oregano and thyme.
    — Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of fills
Noun
  • Rising sea levels push salt water inland through rivers, canals and shallow groundwater; storm surges cause embankments to collapse, allowing water to seep into soils, rivers and groundwater systems.
    — Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, The Dial, 7 July 2026
  • Riding mowers are not designed for wet conditions and are more likely to roll on embankments.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2026
Definition of embankments
Verb
  • Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026
  • Anatasia steals a truck and obstructs their path, sacrificing herself to a bleak future, all in the name of love.
    — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 10 July 2026
Definition of obstructs
Verb
  • Wilson plugs a creative gap in the Leeds line-up off that inside-right channel.
    — Aston Villa, New York Times, 13 July 2026
  • The discovery also plugs a gap in our understanding of Venus's dense atmosphere.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 May 2026
Definition of plugs
Verb
  • Each year, the tournament floods Baltimore’s economy with millions of dollars, boosting tourism, supporting local businesses, and energizing our communities.
    — Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026
  • If an agent misbehaves, floods a system, or takes an unauthorized action, the organization on the receiving end often has no reliable way to determine who is responsible for it.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of floods
Verb
  • The initiative packs a complete launch system into standard shipping containers.
    — David Szondy August 15, New Atlas, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x Deal If your student is enrolled in a creative major and needs a PC that packs killer color accuracy and enough juice for high-octane apps, the Yoga Slim 7x might be the missing paint in their palette.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of packs

Browse Nearby Words

damps
dams
damsel
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Cite this Entry

“Dams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dams. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dams

Nglish: Translation of dams for Spanish Speakers

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