floodgate
noun
flood·gate
ˈfləd-ˌgāt 
1
: a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water : sluice
2
: something serving to restrain an outburst
opened the floodgates of criticism
Examples of floodgate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Floodwater flowed earlier Saturday over the spillway at Inks Dam, which forms Inks Lake but does not have floodgates.
—
Powered By, Austin American Statesman, 7 July 2025
Ten floodgates at Dix's Dam were opened at around 11:15 a.m., Adams said, making conditions dangerous for residents along the Kentucky River corridor due to the release of floodwaters.
—Keisha Rowe, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
And that’s assuming that no Democrats are able to get elected to reopen the floodgates.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025
When Sumit determined that Viraj could type with his right thumb, giving Viraj a way to communicate, the floodgates opened.
—July 11, CBS News, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for floodgate
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Powered By, Austin American Statesman, 7 July 2025
Ten floodgates at Dix's Dam were opened at around 11:15 a.m., Adams said, making conditions dangerous for residents along the Kentucky River corridor due to the release of floodwaters.
—Keisha Rowe, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
And that’s assuming that no Democrats are able to get elected to reopen the floodgates.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025
When Sumit determined that Viraj could type with his right thumb, giving Viraj a way to communicate, the floodgates opened.
—July 11, CBS News, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for floodgate
Cite this Entry
“Floodgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodgate. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
floodgate
noun
flood·gate
ˈfləd-ˌgāt
: a gate (as in a canal) for controlling a body of water : sluice
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