as in levee
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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as in to block
to prevent passage through by filling with something
ice floes were damming the river
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of dam
Vince Beiser, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
The non-profit utility operates five dams on the Salt River (including a diversion dam), two on the Verde River, and one on East Clear Creek.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 25 Nov. 2024
Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
The question of how to counterattack quickly becomes moot after Adar knocks a chunk out of a mountain, damming the river.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dam 
Noun
Torrents of poisonous sludge pouring through collapsed tailings dams have contaminated waterways in Brazil, Canada, and elsewhere and killed hundreds of people—in addition to the hundreds, possibly thousands, of miners who die in workplace accidents each year.
—Vince Beiser, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
The non-profit utility operates five dams on the Salt River (including a diversion dam), two on the Verde River, and one on East Clear Creek.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 25 Nov. 2024
Verb
The debris flows formed from volcanic debris melting part of a glacier ended up damming the Chakachatna River, briefly creating a new lake along the river valley.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
The question of how to counterattack quickly becomes moot after Adar knocks a chunk out of a mountain, damming the river.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dam
Noun
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Some of these include walls made of concrete or other materials, or levees which can be made natural materials such as rocks and earth.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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Opponents of the tunnel have argued the state should instead invest in other approaches in the Delta, such as strengthening aging levees and restoring natural floodplains to reduce flood risks, while changing water management and improving existing infrastructure to protect the estuary’s health.Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The defense team also argued Penny's chokehold alone could not have caused Neely's death, and that Neely suffered an extreme sickle cell crisis on the train floor, blocking the flow of oxygen.Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
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The chemical is also metabolized by CYP3A4, blocking other products (including medication) from connecting to the enzyme and being metabolized.2120 Grapefruit also affects proteins that move a drug into your cells to be absorbed (also called drug transporters).Kirstyn Hill, PharmD, MPH, Health, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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These rallies, filled with chants, music and group dances, are so far going peacefully.Ian Pannell, ABC News, 7 Dec. 2024
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So please, please, please grab your espresso and cookies because Ms. Carpenter is serving a short-and-sweet holiday special filled with beautiful gowns, showstopping performances, cheeky innuendos and cameos from stars like Chappell Roan, Shania Twain, Quinta Brunson and many more.Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Security was tight, with police vans and soldiers in body armor patrolling embankments, while a special detail followed President-elect Donald Trump.Thomas Adamson and John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
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The inspection found deterioration of the spillway outfall pipe, and trees growing upstream, downstream and along the embankment.Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Thomas Parenteau, 60, of Hilliard, was a Columbus-area homebuilder convicted in 2011 on 11 of 13 charges of bank and wire fraud, tax conspiracy, money laundering, conspiracy to obstruct justice and witness tampering.Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 13 Dec. 2024
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Smirnov’s tenure as a confidential source for the FBI ended in spectacular fashion in February, with a grand jury in L.A. charging him with obstructing justice and lying to federal agents.Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Pantry offers pastries and sandwiches and in fair weather, the patio is often packed with visitors and locals who can drink in the view of that namesake feature in the Cascade mountains.Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
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Furthermore, some believe Gaetz packs a political skillset that Democrats should exploit for their own advantage.Philip Elliott, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In a world flooded with ads and messages, the brands that stand out are the ones that create real, human connections through their stories.Somdutta Singh, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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A lot of fans flooded his comments to echo the same sentiments.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Energy is one: oil and gas exports account for roughly a third of government revenue, and the revenues are plugging Russia’s budget gap and propping up the economy.Theodore Bunzel, Foreign Affairs, 9 Dec. 2024
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Throughout the last year, the Lord had been giving me little nuggets to plug into the songs.Kyle Denis, Billboard, 9 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near dam
Cite this Entry
“Dam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dam. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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