In some places the McAdam was cut through a hill, while in others it crossed a valley - the surface of the road being from 12 to 15 & sometimes more feet above the old ground.
Source: wiktionary
Mcadam
Synonyms for "mcadam" (6 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (2)
Noun(2 words)
layered stone pavingpavement
Strong matches (1)
Noun(1 words)
paving material
Related words (3)
Noun(3 words)
paving surfacestone pavementstone paving method
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: layered stone paving, pavement, paving material, paving surface, stone pavement.
- Sentence evidence is available for mcadam, 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 "mcadam".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "mcadam"
Keep "mcadam" 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 "mcadam" 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 "mcadam", 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 "mcadam" 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
5 entriesconstruction materialconstruction methodpaving materialroad construction techniqueroad surface
More specific
3 entriesclosed macadamdouble macadamopen macadam
Collocations
6 entriesclosed macadammacadam roadmacadam surfaceopen macadampaving materialstone macadam
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
The street was to be graded, its sidewalks curbed and flagged, and the road-bed covered with McAdam.
Source: wiktionary
On St. Martin Street 3 laborers and a pipe-layer were for 5 days each digging an excavation about 100 feet long (where the McAdam was very thick and, of course, hard frozen) to find a leak in the main pipe, and the appearance of the leak proved to be about 100 feet from where the leak really was, and then the main pipe was found to be broken across.
Source: wiktionary
Leonardo Da Vinci drew a comprehensive sketch of a bicycle three hundred years before it was re-invented and actually placed in the hands of consumers. Imagine where we would be if the citizens of the early Renaissance had had this invention! (First, they’d need to pave all the roads with a brick or McAdam surface, and invent rubber for the tires.)
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "mcadam"?
Closest matches include layered stone paving, pavement, paving material, paving surface, stone pavement.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "mcadam"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.