tributaries

noun

plural of tributary
as in headwaters
a stream that flows into a larger body of water the Amazon and its more than 1,000 known tributaries form the world's largest drainage basin

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tributaries Both are tributaries of the Klamath River, where Chinook and coho salmon swim upstream to spawn. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 While low flows continue to persist in sections of the Colorado River, cold tributaries, deeper-water refuges in narrow canyon reaches, and larger pools provide cool refuges for fish. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026 Broad rivers formed by the gentle joining of their tributaries, too numerous to count. — Supriya Lopez Pillai, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 Underwater grasses in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries increased 13% in 2025, covering almost 5,000 more acres in Maryland's portion of the Bay, state officials reported. — Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2026 Together, the fish passages have opened up more than 60 miles of river and tributaries and roughly 2,400 acres of wetland habitat for migratory fish. — Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2026 That allowed sea water to infiltrate freshwater tributaries across the peninsula, especially in lagoons and deltas where clam and mussel farms provided ample prey. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 In Michigan, the only state entirely within the watershed, officials are testing 200 tributaries for microplastics. — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 When large streams are elongated, more of the shorter tributaries can share those major channels, and this reduces the overall transport cost. — Natalie Wolchover, Quanta Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributaries
  1. headwaters
  2. branches
  3. affluents
  4. feeders
  5. sources
Noun
  • According to the post, Kentucky State Police Aviation saw smoke in the area, and wardens and search and rescue personnel were able to access the location, near the headwaters of Cave Run Lake, using a boat.
    — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Others, like salmon, return upstream via Metro-North or the Long Island Rail Road to the suburban headwaters in which they were born, in order to spawn.
    — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of headwaters
Noun
  • The Muslim Brotherhood is now banned in Jordan, while its branches are designated terrorist organizations by several countries .
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Grab some pruning shears and tidy up any branches that jut out of place or block pathways and important sightlines.
    — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of branches
Noun
  • On that note, the ACRC survey reported that 52% of affluents were disappointed with the options presented by luxury brands.
    — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of affluents
Noun
  • Most other feeders can send dozens, if not hundreds, of clips to your phone each day, which can be more fatiguing than relaxing to go through.
    — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Fertilizer The American Camellia Society recommends fertilizing camellias in early March, early May, and early July, as these plants are heavy feeders.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of feeders
Noun
  • In July, the music artist and producer spent some solo time after getting into a prison fight, sources told TMZ and NBC News.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The satellites can observe individual facilities from orbit and gather measurements that help identify greenhouse gas sources.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of sources

Browse Nearby Words

tribunes
tributaries
tributary
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Cite this Entry

“Tributaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributaries. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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