confluent

Definition of confluentnext
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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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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confluent
tributary
Noun
  • It's now known to be in Bear Creek, which is a tributary of the Thornapple River in Kent County, southeast of Grand Rapids.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The Yellow River is a tributary, so what happens there affects the Kankakee watershed, too.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Confluent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confluent. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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