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

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

During El Niño, the jet stream more frequently splits into two branches. — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 The corner tree stands at Salem Drive and Idlewood Circle, where its branches form an entryway into the neighborhood. — Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026 If leaves and branches have littered your yard following the heavy storms, this is your chance to clear it. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 So, will Wilde receive an invitation from both the acting and directing branches? — Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 The incoming storm could damage porches, awnings, carports, sheds and unanchored mobile homes, and snap off large tree branches, posing a safety risk, the weather service office said. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 Grab some pruning shears and tidy up any branches that jut out of place or block pathways and important sightlines. — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2026 Taylor represents one of the many branches that’s continually sprouting from the Nick Saban coaching tree, having worked under the legendary coach at Alabama as a graduate assistant from 2007 to 2008. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 22 Sep. 2026 The branches are labelled with tentative letters, almost apologetically. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 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

That could bring down some smaller tree limbs or unsecured outdoor decorations, even outside any thunderstorms.

— Bill Kelly, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Storm damage reported in metro The storms also brought powerful winds that downed tree limbs and power lines, leaving thousands without power across the Northland.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of limbs

Noun

DraftKings had provided more than $2 million to state problem-gambling councils and NCPG affiliates since 2022, according to a March 2025 company announcement.

— Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
This view is shared by several other exchange operators, which oppose the CFTC’s creation of granular rules meant to obstruct affiliates.

— Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of affiliates

Noun

The team would be making camp at the confluence of the Barrancas and one of its tributaries.

— Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
The Arapiuns flows into the Tapajos, one of the Amazon River’s major tributaries, across waterways so vast that navigating them can feel like crossing the open sea.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of tributaries

Noun

Only 27% of Americans view both the State and Justice departments positively, and while Republicansâ€™ approval of those departments has held relatively steady, itâ€™s also below 50%.

— Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Getting different departments to work together is another challenge.

— Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of departments

Noun

Wang failed her first attempt to defend her dissertation and became envious of her colleague's success in discovering how to deliver RNA to human cells using bacteria, Gomelsky told The Associated Press.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Australia found that specialized immune cells called gamma delta (γδ) T cells can spot and kill small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of cells

Noun

Both agencies have seen a notable decline in Republican support.

— Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
While international observers initially blamed Moscow for the blasts, investigators later found suggestions that Ukrainian state security agencies may have been involved — even though Ukraine counts Germany as one of its closest allies.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of agencies

Verb

The novel’s conceit stems in part from my attempt to grapple with my family’s and my own trauma and what constitutes truth.

— Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026
After cutting open both stems and swapping the batteries between earbuds, iFixit noticed the buds could no longer be charged.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026