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

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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

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

Prune tree limbs so the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet from the ground. — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 Tasks included scooping and dumping sand or gravel, digging and grading trenches, clearing debris from roads, removing tree branches from water edges, and breaking up rocks. — New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026 Right before guests arrive, attach fishing line to the wire cage and hang the fall flower arrangement using cup hooks indoors or on nearby branches outside. — Maria Sabella, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026 As Chicago deals with seismic cultural, economic and technological shifts, all 82 library branches will play an even bigger role as anchors for our communities. — Michael Fassnacht, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Birdwatchers said Kaydee and Shadow have been flying around together for the past couple of days, flying to different trees and sometimes perching themselves on different branches for hours. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 In the first three years, combustible materials like firewood, dead leaves, branches, mulch and wood chips would have to be cleared 5 feet around homes. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 One fell on his home, another on his power line and a third dropped branches on the road. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026 Because the sites are generally located at least 100 feet away from any trails, visiting them can require bushwhacking through swampy terrain or dense undergrowth, dodging branches and the occasional cobweb. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 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

These include protective covers for the rear wheel and chain to keep clothing and limbs from accidentally getting entangled.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
Vibrio vulnificus can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a rare bacterial infection that can destroy tissue and lead to severe scarring, loss of limbs and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— Julia Gomez, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of limbs

Noun

Nonprofits join growing number of affiliates Commercial affiliates aren’t new to higher education.

— James Pollard, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
Helicopter footage captured by local CBS and NBC affiliates showed the blue motorcycle speeding on surface streets, with the rider wearing a mask and often appearing to be talking on his phone, and at least once, standing up on his bike.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of affiliates

Noun

Wildlife managers and volunteers will be closing more than 14 miles of stream and tributaries in Rocky Mountain National Park on Monday to start a weeklong operation meant to clear new habitat for Colorado's state fish.

— Logan Smith, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
In Michigan, the only state entirely within the watershed, officials are testing 200 tributaries for microplastics.

— Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of tributaries

Noun

What remains less clear is why burnout continues even as firms and legal departments introduce wellness initiatives, flexible work policies, and workload reforms.

— Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Commissioner Matt Mizell asked if any of the data collected by the sheriff’s office could be shared with other departments.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of departments

Verb

What gets prototyped there radiates into field trips, after-school programs and summer camps that reach thousands of children a year.

— Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Bieniemy radiates discipline and accountability and, of course, carries an intimate understanding of the offense and has Reid’s trust.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of radiates

Noun

According to the Cleveland Clinic, oligodendrogliomas are rare brain tumors that develop from cells that help support and protect neurons, accounting for about 3% to 4% of all brain tumors.

— Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
The use of rechargeable all-solid-state cells could also reduce the frequency of battery replacement.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of cells

Verb

The onslaught stems in part from Ossoff’s status as a potential presidential candidate.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Summary Productivity expert Neal Schore challenges conventional wisdom, arguing that true time loss stems not from poor planning but from internal factors like fear, overthinking, and emotional habits.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026