DAM Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

dam 1 of 2

noun

ˈdam

Definition of dam

as in levee

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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dam

2 of 2

verb

as in to block

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fill

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 dam

Noun

The play broke the dam for an offense — and particularly a run game — that last year looked pretty damn broken. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026 Dam workers and locals in Page, Arizona, have passed down stories from the 1980s and 1990s of boaters driving right up to the dam’s concrete rim, the elevation markers fully covered by water. — Story Hinckley, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026

Verb

One theory is that the rock and ice briefly dammed the valley, allowing water to back up in the river. — Umesh Haritashya, The Conversation, 29 Aug. 2026 Rescue efforts were still ramping up Friday when a swollen glacial lake in the mountains upstream from the affected area, dammed up by debris and filling with meltwater, raised concerns of a possible new inundation looming. — Arshad R. Zargar, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dam

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dam

Noun

At 17 feet, low-lying areas not protected by levees begin to flood.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
The levees were built, Oliver explained, for a city of 350,000 people.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of levee

Verb

The raise suggests investors aren't deterred by Beijing's unprecedented order to block Meta's short-lived $2 billion acquisition.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
In this group, only 3% died of breast cancer after six years, and about 91% had their tumors controlled with primary endocrine therapy, which blocks estrogen receptors on ER+ breast cancer to prevent its growth.

— Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of block

Verb

Around the three-and-a-half-hour mark of the race, the finish-line medical tent filled.

— Vibhu Krishna, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
The interiors, meanwhile, are by Philip Johnson and filled with an insane Warhol-and-Jeff-Koons art collection thanks to billionaire owner Aby Rosen.

— Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of fill

Noun

Search crews found Granbery on Sunday at the bottom of a steep embankment along Cabin Creek.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Granbery was located on Sunday at the bottom of a steep embankment with multiple significant injuries from a fall and from exposure, and was airlifted to a medical center to receive treatment, Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of embankment

Verb

Kisiel is certain the finding could become more important as electronics shrink and more components are packed closer together.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
But beyond the pretty bottle, the formula packs a serious skin-care punch, with 5% mandelic acid, azelaic acid, and licorice root to gently improve the appearance of dark underarms.

— Glamour, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of pack

Verb

Nowhere was that fact clearer than after each concert in the casino where rivers of black Metallica T-shirts flooded the pit.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026
But suddenly everything will change, and clouds will come in, and in 10 to 15 minutes, rain will start and flood everywhere.

— William Earl, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of flood

Verb

Sidi Ould ‌Tah said the goal was to plug a development financing gap estimated to be worth $400 billion a year.

— Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
For example, households can plug their Wi-Fi routers or refrigerators into the batteries to keep those devices running.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of plug

Browse Nearby Words

dallying

dam

damage

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Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of dam

noun

verb

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