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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in subordinate
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of tributary
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
The river flows from tributaries in the Greensboro area to the Atlantic Ocean.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
Explore the Paraná’s tributaries in the hotel’s launch.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
The river flows from tributaries in the Greensboro area to the Atlantic Ocean.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 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
-
From its headwaters high in the Oakland Hills throught the city's Fruitvale District to where the waters eventually empty into the Oakland Estuary and San Francisco Bay, Sausal Creek is a historic treasure.—
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
-
Outdoor enthusiasts can explore miles of scenic trails at Lake Bemidji State Park, fish in pristine waters, or wade through the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park (40 miles southwest).—
Katy Spratte Joyce,
Midwest Living,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
There were four on each of the two ships in the Franklin expedition, with the best candidates being Thomas Armitage, gunroom steward, or William Gibson, subordinate officers’ steward, both of whom served on the HMS Terror.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
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The researchers found that Ourry’s head was marked out in the artwork before it was properly painted, while Jersey’s head was not, suggesting that Jersey was not painted during a sitting, possibly because Jersey was regarded as subordinate, the trust said.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2026
-
For instance, tree-dwelling species often show stronger hand preferences because moving through branches requires precise and coordinated movements.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Shirley was buried in a segregated graveyard under live oaks, on a bayou.—
Jesmyn Ward,
Vanity Fair,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Here the lodge’s rangers transport us on boats, searching for hippos who give themselves away by clusters of bubbles rising to the surface of the bayou.—
Lucie Grace,
TheWeek,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Nicole Blumberg, an assistant district attorney, told the jury that consensual relationships do not preclude rape.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2026
-
Gevorkian, who spent the past two seasons as Brooklyn’s vice president of basketball operations alignment and strategic planning, will join BJ Johnson and Andy Birdsong as assistant general managers under Sean Marks.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Evidence suggests the closer your feeder is to a window, the less likely that bird crashes will be fatal.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
-
And, like hamsters at a drip feeder, everyone lined up to suck down some of the dopamine being rationed out by their NFL overlords.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The best teams built around Dončić have had complementary guards (Jalen Brunson, Kyrie Irving) who could take on playmaking duties for long stretches independently and play off the ball with him.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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Digital health research introduces a complementary lens, one that reflects how health is experienced outside clinical settings and over time.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year contract worth $22 million guaranteed with the Steelers on Saturday, a source confirmed.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.—
Chadd Cripe,
Idaho Statesman,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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