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
Potamopyrgus antipodarum, or New Zealand mudsnails, were found at two tributaries of the Monongahela River in Allegheny County, Peters Creek and Turtle Creek, according to the report.
—
Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Following two decades of ice retreat, two tributaries to the north and south of the Alsek stopped feeding ice to the glacier.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Boats are still the only way to access remote parts of the river and its tributaries.
—Debra Utacia Krol, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
For example, the core curriculum, itself, includes at least investment, insurance, tax, estate, and retirement planning, with loads of tributaries.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Sturgeon fishing generally isn’t a numbers game, and the fish that come onboard the Warship in the summer tend to run smaller than the behemoths that cruise the river in the spring to spawn in the Rainy and its tributaries.
—Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 16 Aug. 2025
Local creeks and tributaries overflowed, causing widespread flash flooding, while the Tennessee River remained within its banks.
—Brandi D. Addison, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2025
The region’s gently rolling hills and narrow river valleys quickly direct water into nearby streams and rivers, while saturated soils and the convergence of multiple tributaries led to a rapid rise in water levels.
—Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Most of the rest of the basin’s lands are arid or semi-arid, receiving less than 20 inches of precipitation a year and contributing little to the flows of the Colorado River and its tributaries.
—Sarah Porter, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2025
Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Following two decades of ice retreat, two tributaries to the north and south of the Alsek stopped feeding ice to the glacier.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Boats are still the only way to access remote parts of the river and its tributaries.
—Debra Utacia Krol, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
For example, the core curriculum, itself, includes at least investment, insurance, tax, estate, and retirement planning, with loads of tributaries.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Sturgeon fishing generally isn’t a numbers game, and the fish that come onboard the Warship in the summer tend to run smaller than the behemoths that cruise the river in the spring to spawn in the Rainy and its tributaries.
—Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 16 Aug. 2025
Local creeks and tributaries overflowed, causing widespread flash flooding, while the Tennessee River remained within its banks.
—Brandi D. Addison, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2025
The region’s gently rolling hills and narrow river valleys quickly direct water into nearby streams and rivers, while saturated soils and the convergence of multiple tributaries led to a rapid rise in water levels.
—Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Most of the rest of the basin’s lands are arid or semi-arid, receiving less than 20 inches of precipitation a year and contributing little to the flows of the Colorado River and its tributaries.
—Sarah Porter, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributaries
Noun
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It could be said that more people have stood atop the headwaters of the Flint River than that of any other one on earth.—
David Hanson,
Southern Living,
13 Sep. 2025
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Enjoy hiking trails with scenic overlooks and opportunities for paddling ⛵ and fishing near the river’s headwaters.—
Melissa Oyler,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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What about those snakes and spiders and overhanging branches?—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
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Researchers also pinpointed the dam's age to a very slim 10-year margin, thanks to twigs and branches that were embedded in the dam's mortar.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Other great gardening and outdoor deals include this two-pack of hummingbird feeders, this 91-inch bird feeding station with four feeders, and the Unicook Pizza Stone that goes right on top of your outdoor grill and can withstand up to 1,450 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Sep. 2025
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The smart device is currently one of Amazon’s best-selling automatic cat feeders, and more than 7,000 have been purchased this month.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And more than 60 million Americans rely on drinking water from rivers and aquifers whose sources are within national forests.—
Ryan Gellert,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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The #Eagles’ trade for Tank Bigsby is in part due to a need for another kick returner, sources say.—
Matt Wadleigh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tributaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributaries. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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