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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On the Columbia River and its tributaries, the party had to dig out five new canoes and then paddle them through treacherous rapids.—
Craig Fehrman,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
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That matters because snowpack makes up the bulk of the state’s water supply; Colorado is heavily dependent on surface water in rivers and tributaries fed by melting snow in the soaring Rocky Mountains, in addition to backup supplies in reservoirs.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confluent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confluent. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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