BRANCHES Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

branches 1 of 2

noun

plural of branch

as in limbs

a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant I loved climbing among the branches of that old tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in affiliates

a local unit of an organization a bank with many neighborhood branches

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in tributaries

a stream that flows into a larger body of water the Blue Nile, the Atbara, and the White Nile are the three primary branches of the Nile River

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in departments

a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization the two branches of the U.S. Congress

Synonyms & Similar Words

branches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of branch

as in radiates

to extend outwards from or as if from a central point threads branched from the center of the spider web

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 branches

Noun

Citizens is closing at least 100 of its supermarket outposts, replacing about half with standalone, full-service branches. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 24 July 2026 After a final briefing from Atimnedi, the exercise kicked off as officials directed three giraffes into waiting trucks, where tree branches were mounted for the giraffes to chew during the journey. — ABC News, 24 July 2026 The front line spans more than 600 miles, and its Ukrainian defenders include a dizzying array of units from various branches of the military. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026 As their company expanded, so did the wealth of the Schlumberger family and the prominence of its branches—the de Menil and Seydoux families. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 24 July 2026 Chadwick is a former pastor of Forest Hill, which meets at the Ballantyne YMCA for one of its branches. — Chase Jordan july 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026 How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines. — Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026 Remove any twiggy branches that are thinner than a pencil, branches that cross each other, and all dead or diseased branches. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 16 July 2026 The family trees here have a lot of branches and some of them are a bit rotten. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 July 2026

Verb

His demise, paired with the disappearance of mobster-type Nicky Caccimelio (Bobby Cannavale), sets the trio on the first phase of their adventures, which inevitably branches into fresh red herrings in customary Only Murders fashion. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for branches

Noun

As a result, the robot kept trying to regain balance while its powered limbs moved near the person beside it.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
The technology is designed to improve the control of advanced prosthetic limbs while reducing pain associated with conventional amputations.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026

Definition of limbs

Noun

Gia’s sales now come through TikTok Shop, where more than 19,000 active affiliates create content featuring the brand.

— Karin Eldor, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Neither Costco Wholesale Corporation nor its affiliates are responsible for use of the card without your permission.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 July 2026

Definition of affiliates

Noun

Namami Gange has added substantial sewage-treatment capacity and supported riverfront, afforestation, and biodiversity projects, but untreated sewage and industrial waste continue to affect the Ganges and its tributaries.

— Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
The town is worried about the effect the wall would have on a series of berms and levees built in the 1970s and 1980s along the Rio Grande and tributaries to combat flooding.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026

Definition of tributaries

Verb

Besides, Beckham practically radiates the sort of star power that dispenses with the need for endless chatter; like Michael Jordan in his Hanes/Space Jam heyday, his physical presence takes precedent over the usual run of blunt-force loquacity.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 10 July 2026
Those tendrils are formed from plasma, or ionized gas, at temperatures in excess of a million degrees Fahrenheit, compared to the sun's visible surface, the photosphere, which radiates at about 9,932 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius).

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of radiates

Noun

Normal mice were drawn to the scents—but not mice whose granule cells had been silenced by optical fibers that the researchers implanted in the animals’ brains to switch these cells on and off.

— Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 29 July 2026
Budson explained that reading facial expressions, body language and tone of voice strengthens connections between brain cells and helps build new ones.

— Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026

Definition of cells

Noun

Georgia still has ample budget reserves and a growing economy, prompting credit rating agencies to give the state their top scores.

— David Wickert, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
Advertisers who have treated those as different budgets, different agencies and different measurement systems may find the distinction harder to maintain.

— Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of agencies

Verb

Next, place the cut stems in a basket, ensuring they are not crushed or damaged.

— Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 23 July 2026
From there, the tension stems not from an unending well of sustained suspense but from the shrapnel-like feeling of worry that comes from enduring too many uncomfortable misunderstandings at once.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 July 2026