seawall

noun

sea·​wall ˈsē-ˌwȯl How to pronounce seawall (audio)
Synonyms of seawallnext
: a wall or embankment to protect the shore from erosion or to act as a breakwater

Examples of seawall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Nancy Pinckert, who lives in the Naples Island neighborhood of Long Beach, is worried about whether the nearly 90-year-old seawalls will stand up to storms. — Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 As part of the agreement, more than $3 million will be transferred to the city for long-term beach cleaning and maintenance, seawall repair, and upgrades to West Martello Tower. — Victoria Davies, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026 The city said the aging seawall has led to soil erosion, causing the pavers to slip into the river and leaving dangerous gaps. — Bri Buckley, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 These seawalls are meant to be affordable so they can be scaled, and also serve as marine habitat. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for seawall

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of seawall was in the 15th century

Rhymes for seawall

See All Rhymes for seawall

Browse Nearby Words

seave
seawall
sea-walled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seawall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seawall. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

seawall

noun
sea·​wall ˈsē-ˌwȯl How to pronounce seawall (audio)
: a wall or bank to prevent sea waves from wearing away the shore

More from Merriam-Webster on seawall

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for seawall

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