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

History of Belden Belden was built upon a tributary of the Feather River in the early 1900s, as the Western Pacific Railroad laid its tracks across Northern California. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026 The Middle Patuxent River runs through the property from north to south, fed by numerous tributary streams. — Susan Soldavin, Baltimore Sun, 20 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

Those objectives must remain subordinate to safety and security constraints.

— Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Companies are rethinking the meaning of a subordinate Tyler Derr, CTO at Broadridge, is already thinking about the AI impact on the manager’s role.

— Keith Ferrazzi, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of subordinate

Noun

Delete an unused import, flag, branch, endpoint or dependency, or eliminate a comment, test or workaround that no longer reflects reality.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Benson says her achievements in her current role as secretary of state include upgrades to online services, cutting average wait times of in-person visits and creating self-service stations at branch offices and grocery stores.

— Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of branch

Adjective

More writer’s assistant jobs followed, including work with a showrunner who was so cruel that Singh thought about moving to San Luis Obispo to become a docent for its famous elephant seal congregation.

— Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
Vega, who held the job for two years, previously was the assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Milwaukee Brewers.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of assistant

Noun

Jody enjoys new experiences, cooking, running bayou trails and her goofy golden retriever, Poppy.

— Jody Schmal, Houston Chronicle, 30 Sep. 2026
There are Resident Evil games set in Spanish castles, runaway trains, ocean liners, weird mansions, the bayou, and strange theme-park-like villages, with bespoke creatures in each.

— Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of bayou

Adjective

Silver Mirror recommends three Volmira visits, one a month, followed by three months of complementary facials, then repeating the cycle.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Combining several complementary signals could deliver greater benefits.

— Mike McRae October 09, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of complementary

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 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tributary

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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