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
This week, Nepal saw more than 430 megawatts of power –– enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes –– knocked offline after 12 dams were hit by the surge of floodwaters. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Researchers have estimated that the waters held behind the world’s dams emit between 10 million and 22 million metric tons of methane per year — roughly equivalent to 3% to 7% of all the methane from human activities. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 In this week's catastrophe, hundreds have lost their homes across the Himalayan region, and officials reported large-scale damage to critical infrastructure, including hydropower dams, roads, buildings and bridges in the region. — CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 They’re considered dangerous because the temporary dams can give way and cause a flood. — Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Similarly, large-scale hydroelectric dams disrupt freshwater ecosystems by fragmenting rivers, blocking migratory fish species like salmon, and altering natural sediment flows. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026 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 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
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
  • The effect essentially gives Roman a parking spot in space, enabling engineers on Earth to remain in constant contact with the telescope, while making sure Earth never blocks its view of the cosmos.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 30 Aug. 2026
  • If the teams refuse to enroll the players who benefit from the TRO, those players could petition Hoffman to clarify that his order also blocks the SEC from punishing schools.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of blocks
Verb
  • The smell of freshly ground espresso and incense fills the air, and staff speak to patients in hushed, discreet tones, almost as if discussing state secrets.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The person who fills gaps consistently becomes indispensable to the people around them.
    — Stacy L. Hambleton, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of fills
Noun
  • Assam has invested heavily in embankments, erosion-control structures, flood walls and other engineering.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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
  • What looks like a sailboard but packs a punch like a warship?
    — David Szondy August 27, New Atlas, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Despite its small stature, this mini table's design—with its dramatic sloping base and softened top—packs a punch.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 27 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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