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 glaciers of Cayambe, Antisana, and Cotopaxi are the sources of one of those tributaries—the Río Napo.
—
Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most famous waterways, and its stretch of the Colorado River and its tributaries are protected.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 9 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
Efforts include regular treatments with lampricides, chemical compounds that effectively kill sea lamprey larvae without causing significant harm to other plants and animals, at more than 200 Great Lakes tributaries.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 15 Dec. 2025
In San José, however, local green spaces have been commandeered by the unhoused, with camps that have developed into villages, especially along the Guadalupe River, where the Crash Zone was located, and its tributaries.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
In one of the many tributaries of the great Yukon River in Alaska, this couple eked out a precarious living fishing for salmon while hoping to find gold.
—David McWilliams, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
Notably, the gang came to dominate supply routes through the northern part of the country, using the major rivers and their tributaries of the Amazon region.
—Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most famous waterways, and its stretch of the Colorado River and its tributaries are protected.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 9 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
Efforts include regular treatments with lampricides, chemical compounds that effectively kill sea lamprey larvae without causing significant harm to other plants and animals, at more than 200 Great Lakes tributaries.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 15 Dec. 2025
In San José, however, local green spaces have been commandeered by the unhoused, with camps that have developed into villages, especially along the Guadalupe River, where the Crash Zone was located, and its tributaries.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
In one of the many tributaries of the great Yukon River in Alaska, this couple eked out a precarious living fishing for salmon while hoping to find gold.
—David McWilliams, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
Notably, the gang came to dominate supply routes through the northern part of the country, using the major rivers and their tributaries of the Amazon region.
—Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributaries
Noun
-
At 16, the Hoopa Valley tribal member was about to kayak more than 300 miles down the Klamath River from its headwaters in southern Oregon.—
The Editors,
Outside,
15 Dec. 2025
-
That’s true of everyone from headwaters to delta, farm to city.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Steinfeld also included a picture of her Christmas tree, which featured a butter yellow onesie nestled on the branches.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 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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Why Provide Water for Birds The birds that visit your feeders will appreciate the fresh sips and will return if the availability of water is consistent.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
-
In recent weeks, city officials have ramped up cleaning efforts in the park by having crews pressure wash walkways, disinfect areas where swans gather on the shoreline and remove feeders.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Whenever using space heaters in a bathroom or kitchen, take all precautions to reduce the risk of electric shock whether that's positioning your heater away from water sources like sinks and showers.—
Shivani Vyas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Plot details are under wraps, though sources tell us this is a cop film.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tributaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributaries. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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