as in tributary
a stream that flows into a larger body of water
several confluents slowly winding their way to the main river
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Recent Examples of confluent
Scholars have proposed different culprits, including malignant confluent smallpox whose symptoms include not only the headache, spots, and sores but also the yellowing of the skin.
—
National Geographic, 19 Nov. 2020
National Geographic, 19 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confluent
tributary
Noun
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The Blue River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which is a main source of drinking water for the region.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
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In Oregon, the three reservoirs where fishing limits were lifted all store water from the Powder River, a tributary of the Snake River, which flows through the northeast part of the state.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confluent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confluent. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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