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
For something more expansive, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa spreads across 45 acres of grounds with multiple pools, lazy rivers, and golf courses.
—
Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Other proposals floated over the decades included towing icebergs from Alaska or Antarctica, diverting rivers from the rainy Pacific Northwest or even piping Great Lakes water thousands of miles west across the Continental Divide.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
The camping website notes that its route will have travelers following the Middle Fork Clearwater and Lochsa rivers, both designated Wild and Scenic Rivers, on the way to Lolo Pass between Montana and Idaho.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 15 Mar. 2026
My body went numb forging frigid rivers while hurricane-level squalls wicked moisture out of my eyes.
—Mark Johanson, Outside, 14 Mar. 2026
For decades, road-trippers zoomed right past Wimberley, Texas—with its scenic vistas, untamed terrain, lazy tubing rivers, blooming wildflower fields, and tiny but tight-knit community.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
The development of many towns, including Tinley Park and Lockport, has been shaped by rivers and railroads.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
The Scottish singer-songwriter and activist visited Mexico this week incognito to explore the Mayan underworld, or Xibalbá — a system of caves, rivers, and underground lakes that wind beneath the Yucatan Peninsula.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2026
Unlike many Gulf states that rely heavily on desalination, Iran still gets most of its water from rivers, reservoirs and depleted underground aquifers.
—Annika Hammerschlag, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Other proposals floated over the decades included towing icebergs from Alaska or Antarctica, diverting rivers from the rainy Pacific Northwest or even piping Great Lakes water thousands of miles west across the Continental Divide.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
The camping website notes that its route will have travelers following the Middle Fork Clearwater and Lochsa rivers, both designated Wild and Scenic Rivers, on the way to Lolo Pass between Montana and Idaho.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 15 Mar. 2026
My body went numb forging frigid rivers while hurricane-level squalls wicked moisture out of my eyes.
—Mark Johanson, Outside, 14 Mar. 2026
For decades, road-trippers zoomed right past Wimberley, Texas—with its scenic vistas, untamed terrain, lazy tubing rivers, blooming wildflower fields, and tiny but tight-knit community.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
The development of many towns, including Tinley Park and Lockport, has been shaped by rivers and railroads.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
The Scottish singer-songwriter and activist visited Mexico this week incognito to explore the Mayan underworld, or Xibalbá — a system of caves, rivers, and underground lakes that wind beneath the Yucatan Peninsula.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2026
Unlike many Gulf states that rely heavily on desalination, Iran still gets most of its water from rivers, reservoirs and depleted underground aquifers.
—Annika Hammerschlag, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivers
Noun
-
Located on the lake’s northwestern shore, the primarily residential township is widely regarded as one of Michigan’s premier boating communities, where canals, marinas and open water shape everyday life, writes Brendel Clark.—
Leah Olajide,
Freep.com,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Today, quagga mussels are present in the lower Colorado River and the canals of the Central Arizona Project and Salt River Project.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Their extended range enables comprehensive mapping of vast territories, tracking snow levels to predict floods or hydroelectric output, and keeping a watchful eye on natural hazards such as landslides and avalanches.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Critics have said that the policy that all spending over $100,000 had to be personally approved by Noem delayed FEMA response during disasters, including during the central Texas floods in 2025.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That geographic spread covers a large swath of southern Florida, encompassing both heavily urban areas and more rural regions with waterways and natural habitats where the lizards can thrive.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Designed around lush vegetation, waterways, and carefully maintained wildlife habitats, the park gives visitors a chance to explore environments inspired by African and Asian landscapes without ever leaving Central Florida.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
The elaborate network of rainfall, rivulets of ditches, and control structures became a sort of language for Van Lent.—
Michael Adno,
Rolling Stone,
3 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 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
