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
  • The Shahtoot Dam, which would be built on a tributary of the Kabul River, could provide water for more than 2 million people in the city.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The Arapiuns flows into the Tapajos, one of the Amazon River’s major tributaries, across waterways so vast that navigating them can feel like crossing the open sea.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • The combined sewage-overflow tanks that are supposed to divert sewage from running into the canal won’t be complete until 2029 — a seven-year delay that might require parts of the canal to be re-dredged again to remove the contamination.
    — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The mother of a Miami-Dade teacher who mysteriously vanished and was later found in a canal walked into a courtroom on Friday, seeking an end to the years-long court proceedings.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of canal
Noun
  • Consider splurging for one of the Signature Rooms, which feature large balconies overlooking the harbor, one of the busiest waterways in Bermuda; watching sailboats and day-cruisers jet across the cobalt waters never gets old.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • More vessels were hit in waters near Iran and Oman, even as Tehran restated its conditions for reopening the key waterway.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of waterway
Noun
  • In a welcome sign of positive change in the barrio, a new branch of Javier Bonet’s super-cool Sala de Despiece restaurant is imminent.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The workingmen’s clubs have closed, and trade-union branches have declined.
    — Vanda Mayer, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 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 11 Oct. 2026.

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