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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Of the more than five thousand tributaries that empty into the Great Lakes, about one in ten is infested with lampreys.—
Katie Thornton,
New Yorker,
24 Oct. 2025
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These ancient, natural waterways are former tributaries of the Rio Grande left behind hundreds to thousands of years ago when the river shifted its course.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confluent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confluent. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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