1
as in streams
a passageway for water
A fallen tree branch was floating down the river.
Related Words
Relevance
2
as in floods
an overwhelming flow or rush of something
Jet streams can be thought of as giant rivers of air that circulate around the globe. He was overwhelmed by the river of new information that the document dump provided.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 rivers
In recent years, cities have been living through short storms that turn subway stations into lakes, streets into rivers, cars into boats.
—
Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Around the time this individual was alive, the Yucatán Peninsula was a semi-arid savannah with no rivers or lakes.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
That means there is roughly 74% less snow than normal feeding rivers like the Colorado River.
—Rj Sangosti, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
Underwater Caves Hold More Than Human Remains Around the time this individual was alive, the Yucatán Peninsula was a semi-arid savannah with no rivers or lakes — water and shade were scarce.
—Ryan Brennan
april 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
There are no roads, only rivers to cross, mud to navigate, and wildlife to avoid.
—Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
The district monitors and sprays pesticides at breeding sites — including local rivers, streams and locations such as Morris Dam — and sets traps in foothill communities to track the population size and minimize the effects on residents.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Flooding events have affected 21 counties and at least two rivers have burst their banks since heavy rains started earlier this month.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Here's what else to know about the flood forecast for Wisconsin this spring, and how to check flooding chances for rivers near you.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Around the time this individual was alive, the Yucatán Peninsula was a semi-arid savannah with no rivers or lakes.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
That means there is roughly 74% less snow than normal feeding rivers like the Colorado River.
—Rj Sangosti, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
Underwater Caves Hold More Than Human Remains Around the time this individual was alive, the Yucatán Peninsula was a semi-arid savannah with no rivers or lakes — water and shade were scarce.
—Ryan Brennan
april 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
There are no roads, only rivers to cross, mud to navigate, and wildlife to avoid.
—Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
The district monitors and sprays pesticides at breeding sites — including local rivers, streams and locations such as Morris Dam — and sets traps in foothill communities to track the population size and minimize the effects on residents.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Flooding events have affected 21 counties and at least two rivers have burst their banks since heavy rains started earlier this month.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Here's what else to know about the flood forecast for Wisconsin this spring, and how to check flooding chances for rivers near you.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivers
Noun
-
Businesses, agricultural land, water wells and irrigation canals have also been damaged, with more than 5,800 families affected, the authority said.—
Abdul Qahar Afghan,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Comparisons of Hormuz Strait with the Suez and Panama canals lack merit.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The advisory noted there are risks of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and landslides — warning the Kathmandu Valley is prone to harsh weather.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Trooper, which sells a 75-item box equipped with water pouches, meal bars, and a hand-crank radio, designed to sustain a family of four for 72 hours, built its kits after the 2024 floods but has found an altogether different audience since the missile and drone volleys started, AGBI reported.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over time, these nutrients move through storm systems and waterways into larger bodies of water such as lakes and ponds.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Pennsylvania waterways are stocked with trout by the state Fish and Boat Commission.—
Ricky Sayer,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even after the leaks were plugged with cement, rivulets of oil persisted for months, and the oil spill’s ecological and cultural impacts lasted even longer.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Hot stones are added, one by one, as the air inside gets heavier, the heat searing the nose and the throat, the sweat starting in rivulets that turn into streams as the smell gets more intense, the heartbeat swells, the mind races.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Rivers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivers. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
