This discovery opened up the floodgates to research and led to the establishment of the discipline as a legitimate field of inquiry.
Source: tatoeba (5363977)
Floodgates
Synonyms for "floodgates" (8 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: barrier, control policy, dam gate, deluge, gatekeeping measure.
- Sentence evidence is available for floodgates, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "floodgates".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "floodgates"
Keep "floodgates" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "floodgates" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "floodgates", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "floodgates" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
6 entriescontent moderationdam gatedata floodinformation delugerisk screeningsluice gate
Collocations
5 entriesclose floodgatesfloodgate structurefloodgate valvefloodgates of informationopen floodgates
Derivations
1 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
In the six hundredth year of the life of Noah, in the second month, in the seventeenth day of the month, all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the floodgates of heaven were opened.
Source: tatoeba (7952929)
The fountains also of the deep, and the floodgates of heaven, were shut up, and the rain from heaven was restrained.
Source: tatoeba (7955801)
In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month – on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.
Source: tatoeba (9801895)
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "floodgates"?
Closest matches include barrier, control policy, dam gate, deluge, gatekeeping measure.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "floodgates"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.