dike 1 of 2

noun

ˈdīk How to pronounce dike (audio)
Definition of dikenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in ditch
a long narrow channel dug in the earth water flowed along the dike to the small pond

Synonyms & Similar Words

dike

2 of 2

verb

as in to fence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 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
  1. dam
  2. ditch
  3. fence
  4. levee
  5. trench
  6. gate
  7. embankment
  8. gutter
Noun
  • Studies of dams in Brazil show that deforestation caused by the dams reduce their potential for power generation by up to 10%, which while sounding modest, means for one plant, lost revenue of $21 million.
    — Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Its leaders agreed to build the dam six feet higher so that the reservoir had enough space to store 5,000 acre-feet of water to be used for environmental health purposes on South Boulder Creek, which flows out of the bottom of the dam.
    — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of dam
Noun
  • Foxes with tails that float behind them, light as scarves, frolic in a ditch.
    — Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Stay informed and follow these tips from the NWS to ensure safety during heavy rainfall: 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, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of ditch
Verb
  • Come to the beautiful property along the island’s Southern coast for a week and your itinerary can be filled with fencing lessons from a nine-time Olympic champion, table tennis classes with an international sensation and mountain bike rides with one of the world’s top pro cycling teams.
    — DeMarco Williams, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Police had long suspected a criminal network of targeting a number of businesses throughout the Bay Area and fencing the goods from the Oakland location.
    — Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of fence
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of levee
Noun
  • After years of misery in the prestige-TV trenches, Doctor Odyssey himself just wants to have fun.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
  • 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
Definition of trench
Verb
  • The Country Club Logo Olympics begin at 7:00 a.m. Monday, when the patron gates open for the week’s first practice round.
    — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Many luxury homes are gated, set on large lots, or feature landscaping that creates a private oasis.
    — Rowan Briggs, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of gate
Noun
  • Investigators said the bus then went partially up the embankment off the highway near milepost 2 and rolled onto its left side.
    — Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Archaeologists began excavating and reconstructing the palace complex in the mid-1970s, including the original stone embankments, water conduit and drainage channel.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of embankment
Noun
  • 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
  • Stay alert for leaks and places that retain water, including pipes and gutters.
    — Nancy LeBrun, Verywell Health, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of gutter

Browse Nearby Words

dihybrid
dike
diked
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Cite this Entry

“Dike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dike. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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