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
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Recent Examples of tributaries
The river flows from tributaries in the Greensboro area to the Atlantic Ocean.
—
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
The property has over a mile of frontage along the Fall River and controls the Spring and Lava creek tributaries.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2026
Vast stretches of suburban concrete block its natural drainage, and thousands of homes have been built along its winding, sluggish tributaries.
—Dominic Boyer, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
Khartoum, a metropolis of 7 million, sits at the confluence of tributaries, a sort of Pittsburgh-on-the-Nile.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
The state socks rainbow, golden, brown, and brook trout in many of the New River tributaries like Glade Creek, Dunloup Creek, Laurel Creek, Mill Creek, and Meadow Creek each spring.
—Jordan Charbonneau, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
On the Columbia River and its tributaries, the party had to dig out five new canoes and then paddle them through treacherous rapids.
—Craig Fehrman, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
That matters because snowpack makes up the bulk of the state’s water supply; Colorado is heavily dependent on surface water in rivers and tributaries fed by melting snow in the soaring Rocky Mountains, in addition to backup supplies in reservoirs.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 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, 3 Apr. 2026
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
The property has over a mile of frontage along the Fall River and controls the Spring and Lava creek tributaries.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2026
Vast stretches of suburban concrete block its natural drainage, and thousands of homes have been built along its winding, sluggish tributaries.
—Dominic Boyer, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
Khartoum, a metropolis of 7 million, sits at the confluence of tributaries, a sort of Pittsburgh-on-the-Nile.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
The state socks rainbow, golden, brown, and brook trout in many of the New River tributaries like Glade Creek, Dunloup Creek, Laurel Creek, Mill Creek, and Meadow Creek each spring.
—Jordan Charbonneau, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
On the Columbia River and its tributaries, the party had to dig out five new canoes and then paddle them through treacherous rapids.
—Craig Fehrman, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
That matters because snowpack makes up the bulk of the state’s water supply; Colorado is heavily dependent on surface water in rivers and tributaries fed by melting snow in the soaring Rocky Mountains, in addition to backup supplies in reservoirs.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 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, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributaries
Noun
-
From its headwaters high in the Oakland Hills throught the city's Fruitvale District to where the waters eventually empty into the Oakland Estuary and San Francisco Bay, Sausal Creek is a historic treasure.—
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
-
Fed by the Big Thompson River with headwaters high in Rocky Mountain National Park, Boyd Lake currently is at roughly one-third of its capacity.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
That said, take a broad look at your savings account options now and don't dismiss the benefits banks with local branches can still offer, as not all institutions will interpret today's interest rate climate in the same way.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
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The snow is likely to be heavy and wet, NWS said, so watch out below for overburdened tree branches and sagging power lines.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
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
Noun
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And be aware that feeders and bird houses may attract these invasive birds to your property.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
-
Some vegetables, like cabbage, are heavy feeders.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential negotiations.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
-
But sources inside the island involved in delivering the aid, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, said the Catholic Church’s infrastructure would not be able to handle a massive influx of humanitarian aid.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tributaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributaries. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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