Thesaurus results for DISTRIBUTARY

distributary

noun

Definition of distributary

as in tributary

Related Words

Relevance

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

Noun

Rough weather rolled over the Colorado community of Evergreen on Wednesday night, swelling Bear Creek and tributaries and tossing debris and mud into homes and downtown.

— Alan Gionet, CBS News, 25 June 2026
The property features over a mile of frontage along Fall River and controls two of the river’s primary spring-fed tributaries — Spring Creek and Lava Creek, according to Hall and Hall.

— David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026

Definition of tributary

Noun

Public swimming has been available for years in a canal in northeastern Paris during summer.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the museum offers a patriotic lens into how the canals, highways, railroads and mines that stitched this country together were built by machines born in American factories.

— Malika Bowling, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Definition of canal

Noun

Hard-liners want to ensure lasting control over the waterway, which is a globally important conduit for fuel shipments and has become a critical lever in confronting the West.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
But a growing number of ships are using a route close to the Omani coast instead, threatening Iran’s leverage over the waterway.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 9 July 2026

Definition of waterway

Noun

Four branches of the TVS family had crossholdings in group companies until they were divided among the third- and fourth-generation members in 2022, with Sudarshan’s father gaining ownership of TVS Motor.

— Anu Raghunathan, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Should another fire roll through, the seedlings are not yet tall enough to hold their branches above the flames.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 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

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Distributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distributary. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of distributary

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulcrum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes