TRIBUTARY Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

tributary 1 of 2

noun

ˈtri-byə-ˌter-ē

Definition of tributary

as in headwater

a stream that flows into a larger body of water the Amazon and its more than 1,000 known tributaries form the world's largest drainage basin

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tributary

2 of 2

adjective

as in subordinate

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of tributary

Noun

The ranchers depend on snowmelt that feeds the Colorado River and its tributaries to nourish grasses and hay pastures for their herds. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 On my right was a gorge, a vertiginous thousand‑meter drop to the Shilla River, an important tributary of the Spiti. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Adjective

But these capitalists were encircled for hundreds of years by a sea of subsistence farmers and tributary empires that operated on completely different principles. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 Jan. 2026 History is everywhere in Okinawa, which from 1429 to 1879 was the Ryukyu Kingdom, a tributary state under China’s Ming and Qing dynasties. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tributary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributary

Noun

According to the post, Kentucky State Police Aviation saw smoke in the area, and wardens and search and rescue personnel were able to access the location, near the headwaters of Cave Run Lake, using a boat.

— Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
Others, like salmon, return upstream via Metro-North or the Long Island Rail Road to the suburban headwaters in which they were born, in order to spawn.

— Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of headwater

Adjective

Bucks encounter rivals, or even subordinate deer, and make scrapes in a sudden display of strength.

— Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
Johnson frequently uses his saxophone to control a sampler or drum machine, triggering changes in loops and effects, but the technology is ultimately subordinate to physical expression.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of subordinate

Noun

Turkish authorities have also blocked access to websites and social media accounts belonging to various LGBTQ+ associations, individuals and independent media outlets, including the X account of Amnesty International’s Turkey branch.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
The region’s chief minister, who heads the executive branch, will be elected by parliament in its first session.

— Teresa Cerojano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of branch

Adjective

Wyatt Lohaus is joining the Kings as an assistant video coordinator after spending the 2025-26 season as a fellow with the Mississippi State men’s basketball program.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Track how often your products appear in assistant answers, and track launch-window products apart from the catalog average, because the aggregate hides the cohort at risk.

— Srijith Ravikumar, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of assistant

Noun

After a pair of SEC Championships and a national title during his five-year tenure with the Tigers, Saban departed for the NFL, leaving many folks on the bayou feeling embittered and betrayed.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Manolito’s three owners, Chris Hannah, Nick Detrich and Konrad Kantor, traveled to Havana to learn from bartenders (called cantineros) about the craft of drink-making, then brought those Caribbean techniques back to the bayou.

— Kristin Braswell, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of bayou

Adjective

One year after its successful location move (from Centennial Olympic Park to Piedmont Park) and seasonal shift (from May to September), Shaky Knees Festival returns this weekend for alternative rock and complementary sounds and styles.

— Matthew W. Smith, AJC.com, 16 Sep. 2026
John Mulaney and Olivia Munn Olivia Munn and John Mulaney opted for subdued elegance with their complementary attire.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of complementary

Noun

Changing feeder patterns and the boundaries could help alleviate some of the pressures schools are seeing by finding a better student population distribution.

— Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026
Raccoons Raccoons are clever, opportunistic feeders, eating whatever’s readily available, including plant and animal matter, garbage, pet food, bird seed, vegetable gardens, and eggs from chicken coops.

— Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026

Definition of feeder

Browse Nearby Words

tributaries

tributary

tribute

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tributary

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on tributary

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

elegiac

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes