TRIBUTARY Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

tributary 1 of 2

noun

ˈtri-byə-ˌter-ē

Definition of tributary

as in headwater

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tributary

2 of 2

adjective

as in subordinate

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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 tributary

Noun

Broad rivers formed by the gentle joining of their tributaries, too numerous to count. — Supriya Lopez Pillai, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 Within the peninsula, the Killey River is a salmon-rich tributary to the Kenai River and runs are happening now, which attract bears. — Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 9 Sep. 2026

Adjective

But these capitalists were encircled for hundreds of years by a sea of subsistence farmers and tributary empires that operated on completely different principles. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 Jan. 2026 History is everywhere in Okinawa, which from 1429 to 1879 was the Ryukyu Kingdom, a tributary state under China’s Ming and Qing dynasties. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tributary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributary

Noun

According to the post, Kentucky State Police Aviation saw smoke in the area, and wardens and search and rescue personnel were able to access the location, near the headwaters of Cave Run Lake, using a boat.

— Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
Others, like salmon, return upstream via Metro-North or the Long Island Rail Road to the suburban headwaters in which they were born, in order to spawn.

— Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of headwater

Adjective

Bucks encounter rivals, or even subordinate deer, and make scrapes in a sudden display of strength.

— Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
Johnson frequently uses his saxophone to control a sampler or drum machine, triggering changes in loops and effects, but the technology is ultimately subordinate to physical expression.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of subordinate

Noun

Taylor represents one of the many branches that’s continually sprouting from the Nick Saban coaching tree, having worked under the legendary coach at Alabama as a graduate assistant from 2007 to 2008.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 22 Sep. 2026
The branches are labelled with tentative letters, almost apologetically.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of branch

Adjective

During the task force’s September meeting, two assistant county administrators shared that the group’s name and mission wouldn’t comply with the DEI ban, Spragg said.

— Zoey Thomas, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026
There is still another FBI co-deputy, Chris Raia, who was formerly the assistant director in charge of the bureau's New York City Field Office.

— Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of assistant

Noun

There are Resident Evil games set in Spanish castles, runaway trains, ocean liners, weird mansions, the bayou, and strange theme-park-like villages, with bespoke creatures in each.

— Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
After a pair of SEC Championships and a national title during his five-year tenure with the Tigers, Saban departed for the NFL, leaving many folks on the bayou feeling embittered and betrayed.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of bayou

Adjective

One other key factor fueling the optimism around network shows is that in the past few years, media giants have recognized that broadcast and streaming can be complementary rather than mutually exclusive.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Both bring important, complementary perspectives that help organizations navigate nuanced messaging and communicate responsibly, in a way that feels credible to employees and consistent with the culture.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of complementary

Browse Nearby Words

tributaries

tributary

tribute

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“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of tributary

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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