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
China’s rule over Tibet, Qinghai, and Xinjiang dates back to the Qing dynasty, which conquered some former Ming tributaries in northwestern China and Central Asia and reorganized them as new provinces.
—
David C. Kang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
After about two more decades of ice retreat, two tributaries to the north and south of the Alsek Glacier ceased feeding ice to the glacier, NASA reported.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Invasive blue catfish also may be hurting numbers of striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay tributaries, but that wouldn’t account for low numbers in the Hudson or Delaware rivers.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2025
The San Carlos sits on the Gila River and is more or less that river's end, since its major downstream tributaries — the San Pedro, Santa Cruz, Salt and Verde rivers — contribute little.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 16 Sep. 2025
In March 2019, Clover Flat Land Fill spilled 40,000 gallons of leachate into nearby streams, which are tributaries of the Napa River, Haley said in a news release.
—Bay City News, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
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
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
David C. Kang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
After about two more decades of ice retreat, two tributaries to the north and south of the Alsek Glacier ceased feeding ice to the glacier, NASA reported.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Invasive blue catfish also may be hurting numbers of striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay tributaries, but that wouldn’t account for low numbers in the Hudson or Delaware rivers.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2025
The San Carlos sits on the Gila River and is more or less that river's end, since its major downstream tributaries — the San Pedro, Santa Cruz, Salt and Verde rivers — contribute little.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 16 Sep. 2025
In March 2019, Clover Flat Land Fill spilled 40,000 gallons of leachate into nearby streams, which are tributaries of the Napa River, Haley said in a news release.
—Bay City News, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributaries
Noun
-
The mine would restrict access to its tribal members, on top of creating heightened risks of mine runoff entering into the headwaters and decreasing dwindling fish populations, according to the lawsuit.—
Kevin Fixler
September 20,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Sep. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
Then think of a tree with strong, thick roots and big branches.—
Soph Warnes,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
-
How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 Sep. 2025
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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But live feeders already know the outcomes of parts 1 and 2.—
Christopher Kuhagen,
jsonline.com,
28 Sep. 2025
-
But eventually the feeders were swarmed by what appeared to be thousands of bees.—
Irv Erdos,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
A lot of the information being funneled to him and his peers from news sources wasn't clear.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Sep. 2025
-
As temperatures drop, plants begin to die back, reducing the availability of insects, seeds and other food sources.—
Brandi D. Addison,
The Providence Journal,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tributaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributaries. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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