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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tributary

2 of 2

adjective

as in subordinate

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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

Rough weather rolled over the Colorado community of Evergreen on Wednesday night, swelling Bear Creek and tributaries and tossing debris and mud into homes and downtown. — Alan Gionet, CBS News, 25 June 2026 The property features over a mile of frontage along Fall River and controls two of the river’s primary spring-fed tributaries — Spring Creek and Lava Creek, according to Hall and Hall. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026

Adjective

That salty, terminal lake had its tributary water diverted away by the city of Los Angeles, turning it into a dry salt flat. — Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Sep. 2023 Sometimes the killers may be Chechens maybe organized by Putin’s other feral favourite, his tributary ruler of Russia’s Chechen republic, Kadyrov. — Time, 24 Aug. 2023 See All Example Sentences for tributary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributary

Noun

Following an exceedingly warm year that has left the Colorado River’s headwaters in the Rocky Mountains largely snowless, Lake Mead is nearing a record-low level.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Its headwaters are in Indian River County, its mouth in the Atlantic near Jacksonville, which is the furthest place Sanders Fish House delivers its wild catch.

— Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026

Definition of headwater

Adjective

The prosecutor noted Patten's cooperation, his good behavior while free awaiting his sentencing, and his subordinate role to the Cokers in the scheme.

— Dan Mangan, CNBC, 21 July 2026
Executive Vulnerability How a leader reacts in the five-second window after being corrected by a subordinate determines the future of that company’s innovation.

— William DeCourcy, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Definition of subordinate

Noun

Members of the Morrison family are coming out against the controversial sale of the beloved YMCA branch in south Charlotte bearing their name.

— Chase Jordan July 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
According to the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office, picking fruit off an overhanging branch can result in a $200 civil citation or even criminal charges.

— Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026

Definition of branch

Adjective

More video footage, meanwhile, appeared to show Argentina’s assistant coach, Daniel Ayala, hitting Spain’s Dani Olmo, The Independent reported.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
His wife, Jennifer, was also a competitive canoeist and assistant coach of the Olympic national team.

— Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026

Definition of assistant

Noun

Day One of the conference was unfortunately a bit muted this time around as Tropical Storm Bertha ripped across the Gulf Coast, unleashing its power across the Louisiana bayou.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
While here, be sure to take a boat tour through the swamps of the bayou.

— Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026

Definition of bayou

Adjective

Having been in the less-is-more handset business since 2014, Light has gone from making a complementary product for smartphone owners – 'your phone away from phone' – to building a primary device that grants you more quality time in your day.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 July 2026
That gives them a brand-new second pair that brings complementary skill sets and should allow the rest of the group to slot into more suitable roles.

— Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of complementary

Noun

Then, display them loosely in a suet feeder where nesting birds can easily spot and gather them up.

— Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 20 July 2026
These trees naturally have shallow feeder root systems, and as the tree ages and grows, these roots thicken and break through the surface.

— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 19 July 2026

Definition of feeder

Browse Nearby Words

tributaries

tributary

tribute

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“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of tributary

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

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