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
Once the jaguar is secure on the floatation device, the rescue vessel carries the exhausted predator along the river — one of the largest tributaries of the Amazon — towards land.
—
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
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
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributaries
Noun
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The Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway is a looped route, one that meanders through the Chattahoochee National Forest and encircles the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
-
How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Some of the gusty winds could last into Tuesday morning along the Northeast coast and could down tree branches and send unsecured objects flying.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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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Plants that are heavy feeders or that have high water requirements may deplete resources mums need.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
-
These include superconductors, correction coils, and magnet feeders that will support the world’s largest fusion experiment.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But The Information, citing anonymous sources, reported in March that the streaming service has lost over $1 billion annually.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The potential for adverse health effects from consuming food contaminated with lead vary depending on the level of lead in the food; age of the consumer; length, amount, and frequency of exposure to lead in the food; and other exposures to different sources of lead and to beneficial nutrients.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tributaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributaries. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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