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

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 The Democratic Party branches in Orange and Riverside counties make no mention of the race in their official endorsement guides. — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 Look at branches of the Academy and count the ones that are likely to vote for this movie. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 29 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 The bank also plans to open 55 new branches across the Carolinas. — Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2026 City rules stipulate that if the two branches of City Hall can’t agree on a replacement within 90 days of the term’s end, the chairperson’s tenure is then extended a year. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 2026 The Constitution spreads power among three branches and grants each an ability to check the others. — Dan Lipinski, Baltimore Sun, 27 Oct. 2026 Under California law, encroaching roots or branches that cause damage can give a property owner grounds to pursue a nuisance claim or seek compensation, depending on the circumstances. — Sacbee.com, 22 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 findings, published in Nature Sensors, build on years of work developing interfaces that allow prosthetic devices to respond more like natural limbs.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
Make sure there are no overhanging limbs that could combust; cut back and remove nearby grasses, brambles, and underbrush; and have a fire extinguisher ready to deal with any embers that float away.

— Steven John, Architectural Digest, 29 Oct. 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

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
The altitude offers incredible vistas of the wetlands that border the Tanana River, one of the largest tributaries of the mighty Yukon.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of tributaries

Noun

The most common and most aggressive form of these 287(g) partnerships, the Task Force Model, allows police and sheriff's departments to make immigration arrests.

— Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026
It's empowered to conduct investigations and instruct departments to withhold payments if there are credible allegations of fraud, among other duties.

— Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of departments

Noun

New approach to missile deployment Traditional vertical launch systems provide warships with an integrated way to fire missiles from onboard launch cells.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
The side effect of being able to reduce the risk of cancerous skin cells and potentially prevent future skin cancers is a definite bonus as well.

— Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of cells

Noun

The law enforcement agencies must act with an iron fist and in an immediate manner.

— Frank Andrews, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Florida has already given hundreds of millions of additional money to law enforcement agencies in the state in exchange for their participation in the program.

— Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026