distributary

noun

Definition of distributarynext
as in tributary

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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 distributary Delhi gets its water from the Yamuna river, while Kolkata uses water from the Hooghly river, a distributary of the Ganga. — Sanjana Venkatesan, Quartz India, 2 July 2019 In 1831, a pathway was dredged between a distributary of the Mississippi and the Red, leading to the formation of the present Atchafalaya river channel. — Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com, 12 Dec. 2017 Saline water has long been invading the delta, but because of the drought there is not enough fresh water in the river and its distributaries to dilute the seawater. — Jane Perlez, New York Times, 28 May 2016 To the left another plume is coming from the Atchafalaya River, a distributary of the Mississippi. — Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2013
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distributary
  1. tributary
  2. canal
  3. waterway
  4. branch
  5. influent
  6. watercourse
Noun
  • Under that circumstance, big river basins would have the same proportions as the small river basins that feed the tributaries within them.
    — Natalie Wolchover, Quanta Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Presidio is protected by a series of berms and levees built in the 1970s and 1980s along the Rio Grande and tributaries to combat flooding.
    — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • That could further reduce the canal's transit capacity and exacerbate congestion across global shipping routes.
    — , CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
  • With its iconic canals, Gothic architecture, Moorish windows, and artisan legacy spanning everything from Murano glass and Burano lace to terrazzo flooring, Venice is a design lover's paradise.
    — Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of canal
Noun
  • The world’s most critical waterway remains functionally closed, despite the president insisting that the US retains total control of it.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Williamson said protection of county waterways is a major pillar of his campaign, highlighting the dangers of chemical sprays meant to control plants that end up damaging the ecosystem.
    — James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of waterway
Noun
  • Filed jointly with the WGA West and East branches, the guild’s suit claims the merger violates antitrust law and would inflict irreparable harm on industry scribes.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Ann Braunstein lives off of Hutchison Road where branches and stumps line her street as well.
    — Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of branch
Noun
  • So far, the city has completed several major components of the Springbrook improvement project, including adding in an ultraviolet disinfection system that replaced the facility’s old chlorine disinfection system and adding new pumps at the influent pump station.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The influent flow is slowed to allow human and food organic waste to settle on the bottom of the tank.
    — The Seattle Times, The Seattle Times, 29 Apr. 2017
Definition of influent
Noun
  • Father and son were swept away by a landslide in the city of Arequipa in a neighborhood built directly over an ancient natural watercourse.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • At the same time, there are riparian natives — those that grow along watercourses — which may need regular attention in terms of water needs for many years after planting.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of watercourse

Browse Nearby Words

distributaries
distributary
distribute
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Cite this Entry

“Distributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distributary. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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