: a wall or embankment to protect the shore from erosion or to act as a breakwater
Examples of seawall in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The repairs are needed to address storm damage to the seawall and surrounding area at the corner of South and Whitehead streets.
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Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Human modifications to coastal landscapes, such as seawalls and levees, can worsen flood risks, accelerate erosion and hinder the ability of coastal ecosystems to naturally adapt, according to the Fifth National Climate Assessment.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2025
The name of this seaside settlement can be traced back to 1519, and today, the city provides plenty of opportunity for recreation both on the water and on dry land, with bay beaches, iconic oceanside nature reserves, and a lengthy downtown seawall that’s popular with pedestrians.
—Jared Ranahan, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2025
Nature Conservancy data show mangrove/reef restoration is 10–100× cheaper than seawalls.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seawall
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Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Human modifications to coastal landscapes, such as seawalls and levees, can worsen flood risks, accelerate erosion and hinder the ability of coastal ecosystems to naturally adapt, according to the Fifth National Climate Assessment.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2025
The name of this seaside settlement can be traced back to 1519, and today, the city provides plenty of opportunity for recreation both on the water and on dry land, with bay beaches, iconic oceanside nature reserves, and a lengthy downtown seawall that’s popular with pedestrians.
—Jared Ranahan, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2025
Nature Conservancy data show mangrove/reef restoration is 10–100× cheaper than seawalls.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seawall
Cite this Entry
“Seawall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seawall. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
seawall
noun
sea·wall
ˈsē-ˌwȯl 
: a wall or bank to prevent sea waves from wearing away the shore
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