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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in departments

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

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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

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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

The three Democrats appeared side by side in a display of unity between two branches of government with a sometimes-prickly relationship. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026 Foliage grows on branches spreading out in tall canopies, while shrub growth is lower to the ground. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2026 In a bizarre turn of events, on Wednesday November 4th, New York City’s Queens Public Library (QPL) system, which operates 66 branches, experienced an attack on its online networks by a hacker. — Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026 Miniature trains travel from one landscape to the next, while Christmas trees in most Vuitton stores will feature train garlands winding around their branches. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026 Ueno’s app, cards and transfers went dark and its branches locked their doors, leaving desperate depositors lined up outside with no way to cash out their savings. — ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026 When ATMs spread across American banking, economist James Bessen documented in the IMF’s Finance & Development that fewer tellers were needed per branch, yet banks opened more branches and teller employment held steady as the role evolved. — Phillip Marangella, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026 In response to questions for this story, individual service branches initially directed CNN to the Pentagon for information about the guidance families receive from the military when navigating divorce and child custody in foreign courts. — Brianna Keilar, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026 On Wednesday, a tree and branches held onto the bridge as if saying a final farewell. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 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

The film delights in its arborial sound effects, twigs cracking and limbs growing alongside other wood-like appendages.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2026
Previous research by the researchers documented twitching limbs and moving retinas in another jumping spider species.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of limbs

Noun

But those services allow for geofenced dynamic advertising insertion (DAI), allowing local affiliates to sell commercials to a streaming audience.

— Alex Sherman, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
The agreement does not say which shareholders, affiliates or family members have been approved to transact with Betancourt’s company.

— Cate Brown, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of affiliates

Noun

As a whole, dispersed across the World Wide Web, its river and tributaries, the words and images and videos form a new corpus of word and art.

— Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
But stocks have got so low that, in 2024, the Alaska government, in conjunction with Canada, shut down fishing for king salmon on the Yukon River and its Canadian tributaries for seven years—one complete king-salmon life cycle.

— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of tributaries

Noun

The auditor may perform audits or reviews of any of the Clay County offices or departments.

— The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
State and local health departments can share alerts for regional products, and your grocery store may post recalls online or send them through email and loyalty programs.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of departments

Noun

The discovery could give researchers a simpler way to investigate structures found in human cells.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
In one effort to better understand what's going on, scientists are learning how specialized cells in our eyes turn the blue wavelength part of the light spectrum into neural signals affecting mood and alertness.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of cells

Noun

The large agencies supporting the project include the Metropolitan Water District, which delivers water for nearly 19 million people across Southern California.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
The measure speeds permitting approval under the California Environmental Quality Act by placing deadlines on government agencies to issue or deny permits within a year.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026