channelize

verb

ˈcha-nə-ˌlīz How to pronounce channelize (audio)
Definition of channelizenext
as in to direct
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway channelized all of his resources into winning that state's crucial primary

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 channelize The Don River flowing through Toronto into Lake Ontario had been channelized, encased in concrete, and diverted nearly at a right angle to output at a different location. — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 3 June 2026 Upstream from Upper Klamath Lake, a key tributary was channelized and wetlands drained, resulting in massive amounts of phosphorus flowing into the Upper Klamath Lake and, eventually, the lower river. — Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 29 Dec. 2025 The Army Corps of Engineers channelized and paved the once-meandering river. — Emma Bowman, NPR, 17 Nov. 2025 Those changes include channelizing the bay in some places and transforming it into dunes and marshland in others. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025 As a response to this, in the 1960s, the city added more concrete, channelizing the river in the hopes of getting runoff away from neighborhoods to Lake Michigan as fast as possible. — Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024 Austin and San Antonio have dammed, altered, channelized, buried and otherwise manipulated their creeks and rivers. — Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 13 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for channelize
  1. direct
  2. channel
  3. canalize
  4. funnel
  5. carry
  6. pipe
  7. conduct
Verb
  • The former is an action drama directed by Suresh Triveni and fronted by Anil Kapoor; and the latter an original drama series starring Bhumi Pednekar.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The policy directs higher education institutions not to create a list of student names linked with immigration status or retain sensitive information, like a student or parent’s Social Security number, for longer than necessary.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of direct
Verb
  • After his best friend died of AIDS, activist Cleve Jones channeled his grief into a sewing project that became the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026
  • More than two years later, Selma Blair is taking the fallout over her Islamophobic comments and channeling it into a documentary about antisemitism.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of channel
Verb
  • Some became conscious of the role a state could play in intervening in the economy in order to curb and canalize democracy.
    — Zeev Sternhell, Slate Magazine, 7 Apr. 2017
Definition of canalize
Verb
  • Despite funneling $40 billion into enterprise investment, 95 percent of organizations are not yet seeing any returns.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • This might look like tech investments, direct services or upstream approaches that all funnel in to support the common goal of ensuring our community members are not left uninsured and unable to access healthcare.
    — Taryn Palumbo, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of funnel
Verb
  • An ammunition depot was hit, as were a bulk carrier in the Chornomorsk port carrying dual-use goods and port infrastructure in Izmail, the ministry said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • As the hundreds of thousands of people made their way down the narrow roads following the politician, a few rerouted into the industry event, still carrying big flags and with faces lit up with hope.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • Riyadh has brought oil exports close to prewar levels by piping crude to the Red Sea and sending tankers through Hormuz, despite Iranian threats.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Lucid offers a couple of relaxation videos that span both screens, while also piping in atmospheric audio to transport you to the beach or lakeside.
    — Tyler Hayes, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of pipe
Verb
  • In fact, their 2026 Giving Signals Report, conducted with The Harris Poll, pegged millennials as the most active donor generation right now.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Jeong-yo is conducting a choir of children inside of the church.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of conduct

Browse Nearby Words

channeling
channelize
channelized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Channelize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/channelize. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All