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

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 Argentina has previously designated several other groups as terrorist organizations, including Venezuela’s Cartel of the Suns, Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel and three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood. — Almudena Calatrava, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Line of Fire centers on the Hollingsworth family, whose members work in various branches of federal law enforcement and who are seemingly being targeted by an assassin. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 All the branches of the Russian military are also developing their own versions of NNSD and are seeking to claim a comparative advantage in its execution. — Dmitry Adamsky, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2026 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

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

But the scenes — his body covered in medical equipment, his limbs not moving, his teammates down on a knee — certainly created cause for concern.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026
In fall, leaves from a neighboring tree can blanket your yard, and overgrown branches or falling limbs can lead to disputes between property owners.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of limbs

Noun

At the time, the company had several matters before the government, including investigations into its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, treatment of local broadcast affiliates and Kamala Harris’ appearance on NBC’s Saturday Night Live.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Hegseth affiliates with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC, whose leader identifies as a Christian Nationalist, envisions a theonomous America where women are denied the right to vote and has defended the institution of slavery.

— Odette Yousef, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of affiliates

Noun

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
Salmon born in its tributaries migrate to the ocean, spend years feeding at sea, then return to spawn, linking villages like Rampart to the same waters where the pollock fleet fishes.

— Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of tributaries

Noun

Drones have already become useful tools for police departments.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Most business spending on AI is on OpenAI and Anthropic, according to data from corporate card issuer Ramp, though some corporate IT departments have integrated Google's Gemini models into their systems.

— Jordan Novet, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of departments

Verb

Joy radiates from the image, bringing a sense of reclamation not only to Destin, but also to the sea of people who see themselves in him.

— Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 19 Oct. 2026
The Design Courtesy of Panasonic With its sleek design and minimal interface, the Panasonic Japanese microwave radiates quiet luxury.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of radiates

Noun

That’s because a few rotating cells could approach the coast with waterspouts.

— Jamie Ross, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026
This cancer is caused by the accumulation of certain genetic mutations that prevent rectal cells from repairing DNA damage and accounts for 5-10% of rectal cancers.

— Alice Park, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of cells

Noun

Florida Poly’s department also plans to work with other regional law enforcement agencies.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Kapszukiewicz thanked all community agencies that helped respond to the event, including those who assisted in evacuating residents and setting up shelters.

— Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of agencies

Verb

Advertisement Give broccoli stems a chance Jonathan Deutsch has watched fellow cooks buy cases of broccoli, cut off the florets, and throw away the stems.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
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