1
as in dam
a bank of earth constructed to control water
an elaborate system of dikes built to protect the lowlands from the relentless onslaught of the sea
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as in to fence
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dike
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
This discovery adds to the growing body of evidence that removing dikes—and re-introducing tidal waters—can be beneficial for estuary ecosystems.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Dec. 2024
Edward Stratton, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2018
Aerial photos show portions of the land – diked and drained for agriculture by the 1930s and cut in half by US Highway 30 by the 1970s – slowly returning to wetlands as levees broke down and breached.
—Edward Stratton, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2018
See All Example Sentences for dike
Noun
There’s a classic Dutch folk story about a young boy who heroically plugged a small leak in a dike with a finger, preventing a catastrophic flood by holding back the water until help arrives.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
This discovery adds to the growing body of evidence that removing dikes—and re-introducing tidal waters—can be beneficial for estuary ecosystems.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
The southern banks along Svensen Slough, a side channel of the Columbia River, have transformed over time from historic spruce swamp into fields diked off by European settlers for farming.
—Edward Stratton, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2018
Aerial photos show portions of the land – diked and drained for agriculture by the 1930s and cut in half by US Highway 30 by the 1970s – slowly returning to wetlands as levees broke down and breached.
—Edward Stratton, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2018
See All Example Sentences for dike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dike
Noun
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Already, workers have partially deconstructed the existing dam, dumped fill material and poured concrete for the expansion.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2025
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The dam holds back a river near Popovka, a border settlement in Belgorod.—
David Axe,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Here’s your guide from the NWS to staying safe during downpours: Beware of swollen waterways: Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
The Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2025
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If reaching a safe shelter is not possible, either crouch down in your car and shield your head, or leave your vehicle and find shelter in a ditch or ravine.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The city fenced off the area and evicted the homeless before the sale to a group of property owners.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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While most of the area will be accessible, some sections will stay fenced off for safety as crews finish stabilizing the ground and to allow new grass to grow.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Dams and levees lead to less frequent flooding, but erosion and deforestation mean more catastrophic floods when these barriers are breached.—
Nikil Saval,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
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Image Most of the storm’s damage so far has been caused by floodwaters that overtopped riverbanks and levees, surged through streets and inundated the basements and ground floors of buildings.—
Patrick J. Lyons,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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After years of misery in the prestige-TV trenches, Doctor Odyssey himself just wants to have fun.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
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British soldiers were among those winding their way around trenches in Romania with designs lifted from the battlefields of Ukraine.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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National security Pete Hegseth Signal gate Trump Signal chat Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
26 Mar. 2025
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A little planning, the right gear, and skipping social media stunts will get you from curb to gate with minimal stress.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
WIRED,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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According to police, a preliminary investigation indicated that the Jeep was attempting to exit onto the ramp for southbound I-83 when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle lost control and hit the embankment then a tree before catching fire.—
Matt Hubbard,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Apr. 2025
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Auvers-sur-Oise’s mayor, Isabelle Mézières, has for five years argued that the embankment was public property, but earlier this month, an appeals court in Versailles sided with Jean-François and Hélène Serlinger, the owners of a residence that includes where van Gogh made Tree Roots (1890).—
Angelica Villa for ARTNews,
Robb Report,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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DIYers can improve the drainage around their foundation by regrading the yard to slope away from the home, adding underground drainage systems, and replacing or repairing the existing gutter system.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Mar. 2025
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Stay alert for leaks and places that retain water, including pipes and gutters.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dike. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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