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

As a result, face-to-face interactions at bank branches are increasingly impractical. — Eyal Lifshitz, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Much of the social scene centered around protesting, with friends gathering on weekends to march or blockade or occupy the upper branches of a tree in the name of whatever cause seemed most urgent. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026 Nationally, the company opened 66 branches and updated 180 locations this year. — Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026 Should another fire roll through, the seedlings are not yet tall enough to hold their branches above the flames. — Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 On streams and creeks, wood laydowns are prime locations to find oversized ’gills, as the branches attract baitfish and other forage, and the structure creates a soft spot on the downstream side of the laydown. — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026 The sounds of generators could be heard on some streets and downed tree limbs and branches were visible. — Gabriella Fine, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026 Unlike many big reverse mortgage lenders, this one has dozens of branches across the country. — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 9 July 2026 Crews — including at least one person captured wearing an old crew shirt from a previous Swift tour — were seen wheeling in greenery and flowers, as well as knobby tree branches and lush foliage. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 4 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

Whole limbs were frocked with ochre insects like coppery Christmas-tree decorations.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Ultrasound studies indicate that a fetus’s dominant hand is decided before its brain even connects to its limbs.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 13 July 2026

Definition of limbs

Noun

Hazmat materials got dumped right into rivers and tributaries.

— Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
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

Definition of tributaries

Noun

Local police departments and private vessels also responded, Crispen said.

— Phil Helsel, NBC news, 15 July 2026
According to a July 14 press release from CalHR, the recent pilot focused on hiring for Analyst I, Analyst II and Student Assistant positions in the participating departments.

— Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of departments

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

As beta-amyloid levels rise in the brain, tangles of proteins called tau begin gathering inside brain cells, causing neurons to collapse and die.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
The liver breaks cholesterol down through LDL receptors on the surface of liver cells, which means more LDL receptors means more cholesterol cleared from the blood.

— Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2026

Definition of cells

Noun

Dozens of mostly smaller law enforcement agencies have severed their ties to Flock in recent months.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Tunnel walks have evolved from viral social media moments into marketing platforms for luxury brands, agencies and media companies, giving athletes new ways to shape their identities, engage fans and expand brand visibility.

— Nethumi Kannangara, Sportico.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of agencies

Verb

The debate stems over a Federal Communications Commission action on June 29 that advanced the company’s plans, over the objection of California regulators, many residents and Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
The ‘College-Enrollment Death Spiral’ and College Athletics The merger of Ursuline and Gannon stems in part from the enrollment challenges that have become a focal point of higher ed administrators across the country.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026