Synonyms for

Canals

Verb / kʌˈnælz / Another word for canals — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Canals are man-made waterways constructed to allow the passage of boats or ships for transportation or irrigation.

Synonyms & similar words

canal epithelialduct channel duct canalize canalise waterways channels ditches conduits aqueducts flumes trenches gutters pipes drains raceways sluices culverts sewers passages arteries vessels ducts courses streams

Synonyms by register

Formal

waterways channels aqueducts conduits

Informal

ditches trenches gutters

Literary

channels veins arteries

Antonyms

highways roads streets avenues arteries channels

Common collocations

  • artificial canals
  • shipping canals
  • irrigation canals
  • Grand Canal
  • Venetian canals
  • canal system
  • canal boat
  • canal water

Word family

noun canal
verb canalize

Usage note

Canals are typically artificial waterways. While 'channels' can be a synonym, it also refers to natural waterways, so context is important.

Example sentences

  1. The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
  2. The farmers used canals to irrigate their fields.
  3. The city of Amsterdam is famous for its network of canals.
  4. The Erie Canal in New York was an important transportation route in the 1800s.
  5. The canals in Venice are so narrow that only small boats can pass through.

Quotes

  • Life is like a river, constantly flowing and changing course. Sometimes we need to take a different route, like a canal, to get where we want to go.
  • The canals of history run deep, and they shape the landscape of our lives.
  • I love the peacefulness of watching the barges go up and down the canals. It's like a slow dance on the water.

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