DAMS Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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dams

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of dam

as in blocks

to prevent passage through by filling with something ice floes were damming the river

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 crane had nearly gone extinct before, driven in part by an explosion of new hydroelectric dams in the early 20th century, whose construction dried out local wetlands. — Sara Herschander, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026 In 2025, Hydro-Quebec, a company that generates electricity from dams across the province of Quebec, secured a deal with local regulators to use Maine as a corridor to supply clean energy to Massachusetts. — Stefano Tijerina, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026 A matter of climate and security Relocating populations to make way for dams is far from unprecedented in the region — though the practice often proves controversial. — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026 Products like inflatable dams, flood barriers that attach to doors more like dog gates or even good ol’ fashioned waterproofing tapes and foams are generally fine to install. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 Three dams along the Boardman River were taken out to reconnect coldwater streams and restore fish habitat. — CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Its leading export is electricity, produced by hydropower dams. — Grant Peck, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Public Works is preparing for 24-hour operations, monitoring low-water crossings, dams, roadways, debris and traffic signals while staging barricades for potential road closures. — Jacob Beltran, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Sep. 2026 Reuters reported in 2025 that China and India, the world's most populous countries, have built 68 major dams in the Himalayas and another 101 are in the pipeline. — Mamita Bhandari, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026

Verb

Then dams and expanding farmlands dried it up and turned it into a patchwork of fields, roads and towns. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026 Mormon Flat, which dams Canyon Lake, was constructed in 1925, and is one of SRP’s oldest dams. — Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 18 Sep. 2026 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

Noun

The state is pre-positioning more than 4 million sandbags, more than 50,000 feet of portable flood barriers and 400,000 tons of rock to repair levees.

— Adrian Florido, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026
At 18 feet, low-lying rural areas outside the levees begin to flood.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of levees

Verb

Imfinzi, made by AstraZeneca, is an immunotherapy that blocks a protein called PD-L1, which cancer cells use to evade the immune system.

— Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Community opposition that blocks municipal permits has become a bottleneck, and tech giants could face even more challenges if voters next month elect more public officials who are skeptical of data centers.

— Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of blocks

Verb

There’s just a single SD card slot, so there’s no option for redundant backup storage, but the FP2 does come with 70GB of storage built-in that can be used when your memory card unexpectedly fills up.

— Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2026
Shapira fills a plate with a crab cake, two chicken tenders, and a salad, lamenting the fattiness of American food.

— Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of fills

Noun

Water began to flood the streets of Baja California Sur on Monday hours after residents boarded up homes and set up embankments as Hurricane Polo bore down on the peninsula Monday, threatening high winds, floods and mudslides.

— Megan Janetsky, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026
How levees work Levees are earthen embankments positioned parallel to a river that effectively raise the height of the banks of the river to prevent overflow when the river swells.

— Kaleigh Yost, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 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

Essentially, earbuds—or anything else that plugs up your ear canal for long periods of time—could lead to a greater buildup of wax if your body isn’t able to get rid of it.

— Julia Landwehr, HEALTH, 14 Sep. 2026
Wilson plugs a creative gap in the Leeds line-up off that inside-right channel.

— Aston Villa, New York Times, 13 July 2026

Definition of plugs

Verb

Pocket-sized Hong Kong packs more of a punch than its 430-square-mile size might suggest.

— Lee Cobaj, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
Mevis packs about 250 pounds on his 6-foot frame and Grupe stands 5-foot-7 and weighs nearly 100 pounds less, a difference that came into play Sunday when the Rams lost 18-16 to the Cardinals, who were 12 1/2-point underdogs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of packs

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damps

dams

damsel

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Style

“Dams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dams. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dams

noun

verb

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