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
Relevance
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
Many Maryland watermen have been stuck on land for weeks because parts of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries remain frozen over, leaving some oystermen out of work during peak season.
—
Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Several smaller tributaries across the region float into the Drina, all carrying their portion of the garbage.
—Eldar Emric, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Africa’s largest tank battle since World War II was fought over a bridge at the confluence of the Cuito and Cuanavale Rivers, the Okavango’s two major tributaries in the eastern Angolan Highlands.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
The falls are also named for this blue-green water, which eventually flows into the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River through side canyons and tributaries.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 15 Jan. 2026
The glaciers of Cayambe, Antisana, and Cotopaxi are the sources of one of those tributaries—the Río Napo.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
To spawn, salmon must swim hundreds or even thousands of miles upstream from the ocean, and in the Columbia River and its many tributaries, their path is obstructed by a massive network of hydroelectric dams.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, or Northern Water, built a shallow reservoir at the confluence of the Colorado and one of its first substantial tributaries, the Fraser, in the 1980s.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The commission also built about 50 barriers on tributaries to prevent adult sea lampreys from accessing spawning habitats.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Several smaller tributaries across the region float into the Drina, all carrying their portion of the garbage.
—Eldar Emric, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Africa’s largest tank battle since World War II was fought over a bridge at the confluence of the Cuito and Cuanavale Rivers, the Okavango’s two major tributaries in the eastern Angolan Highlands.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
The falls are also named for this blue-green water, which eventually flows into the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River through side canyons and tributaries.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 15 Jan. 2026
The glaciers of Cayambe, Antisana, and Cotopaxi are the sources of one of those tributaries—the Río Napo.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
To spawn, salmon must swim hundreds or even thousands of miles upstream from the ocean, and in the Columbia River and its many tributaries, their path is obstructed by a massive network of hydroelectric dams.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, or Northern Water, built a shallow reservoir at the confluence of the Colorado and one of its first substantial tributaries, the Fraser, in the 1980s.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The commission also built about 50 barriers on tributaries to prevent adult sea lampreys from accessing spawning habitats.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributaries
Noun
-
In recent years, high-elevation residents have been detected near Donner Lake and the headwaters of the American River's north fork.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The headwaters of the South Platte are located in the mountains of Park County near Fairplay.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In addition, winds are blowing branches onto power lines and into the roads.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The State of the Union marks one of the rare times all branches of government are under the same roof.—
Sarah Beth Hensley,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 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
-
Hang feeders in shady, open spots 4 to 6 feet high, near trees or shrubs for quick cover.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Plus, their diverse food supply supports a wider variety of birds than feeders do.—
Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Interim executive director David White, former NFLPA president and eventual chief strategy officer JC Tretter and American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti are on the list, two sources briefed on the matter confirmed to The Athletic.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
According to two sources, the US military is preparing for operations that could continue for several days.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tributaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributaries. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
