as in tributary
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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
By the 1950s, scientists noticed the consequences: more water was going down the Atchafalaya River, a distributary of the Mississippi.
—Boyce Upholt, Time, 9 May 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
Sanjana Venkatesan, Quartz India, 2 July 2019
By the 1950s, scientists noticed the consequences: more water was going down the Atchafalaya River, a distributary of the Mississippi.
—Boyce Upholt, Time, 9 May 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
Noun
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History is everywhere in Okinawa, which from 1429 to 1879 was the Ryukyu Kingdom, a tributary state under China’s Ming and Qing dynasties.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
16 Jan. 2026
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The falls are also named for this blue-green water, which eventually flows into the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River through side canyons and tributaries.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Broward County Sheriff's Office later found his body inside his vehicle in a nearby canal.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Rainfall, irrigation and drainage can transport phosphorus – either dissolved in water or attached to eroded soil particles – into nearby canals, streams, rivers and lakes.—
Dinesh Phuyal,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Lastly, despite ice appearing to be thick enough to walk on over many waterways, stay off the ice.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
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The tree’s seeds are spread by their floating fruit, according to Mattus, which can make their way down waterways.—
Jennifer Lobb,
Martha Stewart,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Thursday at Granada coffee shop in Angelino Heights, on one of those 73-degree winter mornings in Los Angeles when the sky glows its sunniest cobalt-blue through bare branches.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Start with the bottom branches to avoid adding more weight to lower limbs.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The project, which was listed as the third highest priority in the Facilities Plan, included installing new screenings and grit removal facilities, demolishing an existing influent pump station and installing a new pump station, and making other improvements, according to a staff report.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
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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
Noun
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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
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More adventurous canyoneering trips, like Eye of the Needle, feature multiple rappels up to 200 feet in a flowing watercourse and an ascent back from the canyon floor using steel cables in the sandstone.—
Nicholas DeRenzo,
AFAR Media,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distributary. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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