1
as in streams
a passageway for water
A fallen tree branch was floating down the river.
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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.
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Recent Examples of rivers
Native to eastern North America, wild mountain laurel plants grow en masse along woodland margins, rivers and streambanks, and sloping hillsides.
—
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 13 June 2026
Beyond being expensive to maintain, the dams are destructive to rivers, blocking fish habitat while warming the water, depleting oxygen levels and trapping sediment upstream.
—CBS News, 12 June 2026
The fireworks will go off from six barges on the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny rivers, as well as some rooftops.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Scott Pelath, executive director of the Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission, was headed to the rivers to check for debris in the channel that could impede the flow of water and cause flooding.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Chicago has an astounding network of rec trails and green space, many found along rivers and lakes.
—Diane Penningroth, Midwest Living, 12 June 2026
Of the more than 40 million annual visitors to the state, about a quarter seek outdoor recreation, including fishing at the state’s extensive network of fishing holes—rivers like the Missouri and Mississippi, as well as more than 2,700 lakes—meaning a stop at Bass Pro is almost always in order.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
The North Carolina Estuarium is another highlight, with Pamlico River tours as well as 200 exhibits on estuaries and coastal rivers.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2026
In those days the rivers were the roads of the North, and the weekly boats, powered by twin diesels, made the trip in three days.
—Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 13 June 2026
Beyond being expensive to maintain, the dams are destructive to rivers, blocking fish habitat while warming the water, depleting oxygen levels and trapping sediment upstream.
—CBS News, 12 June 2026
The fireworks will go off from six barges on the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny rivers, as well as some rooftops.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Scott Pelath, executive director of the Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission, was headed to the rivers to check for debris in the channel that could impede the flow of water and cause flooding.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Chicago has an astounding network of rec trails and green space, many found along rivers and lakes.
—Diane Penningroth, Midwest Living, 12 June 2026
Of the more than 40 million annual visitors to the state, about a quarter seek outdoor recreation, including fishing at the state’s extensive network of fishing holes—rivers like the Missouri and Mississippi, as well as more than 2,700 lakes—meaning a stop at Bass Pro is almost always in order.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
The North Carolina Estuarium is another highlight, with Pamlico River tours as well as 200 exhibits on estuaries and coastal rivers.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2026
In those days the rivers were the roads of the North, and the weekly boats, powered by twin diesels, made the trip in three days.
—Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivers
Noun
-
Northern snakeheads are freshwater fish and live in small and large streams, canals, rivers, ponds, reservoirs and lakes, according to the agency.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
-
The fitness center is awash in natural light, which is a great alternative to a jog along the city’s canals.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Extreme floods that once swamped coastal communities only rarely are becoming far more common as climate change caused by humans pushes sea levels higher, according to new research.—
Alexa St. John,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
-
Gulf Coast states already dealing with massive floods are bracing for even more extreme weather as the first tropical storm of the season could form as early as Tuesday night.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
More than 1 billion gallons of ash spilled into waterways and neighboring properties after a dike ruptured.—
Christiana Freitag,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2026
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These parts of the outback are known for cracking clay plains, ephemeral waterways, scorching summers and dramatic cycling between drought and flood.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
His uniform and scalp were lined with glistening rivulets of oil, water, soot and sweat.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
-
In this piercing account of the American Dream in tatters, the magnitude of that dimension feels appropriate, echoing the currents of betrayal, fear and death that course through the film like rivulets of blood.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 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 Jun. 2026.
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