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
as in subordinate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tributary
Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 14 May 2025
For nearly a decade, state and federal scientists have studied the pernicious aquatic weed hydrilla, looking for its vulnerabilities and studying the tidal ebbs and flows that have seeded it across 200 miles of the river and its tributaries in Connecticut.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2025
Catherine Porter, New York Times, 6 June 2023
This was a tributary version of the break-up and floe of ice that historically has happened in all the Great Lakes.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for tributary
Noun
Rural western Maryland schools forced to evacuate About 100 miles north, in the far western corner of Maryland, the North Branch Potomac River and some tributaries burst their banks on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of schools and businesses.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 14 May 2025
For nearly a decade, state and federal scientists have studied the pernicious aquatic weed hydrilla, looking for its vulnerabilities and studying the tidal ebbs and flows that have seeded it across 200 miles of the river and its tributaries in Connecticut.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2025
Adjective
The edges of the country roads are decorated by tributary statues and banners flashing the faces of Allied soldiers who died in the fight.
—Catherine Porter, New York Times, 6 June 2023
This was a tributary version of the break-up and floe of ice that historically has happened in all the Great Lakes.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for tributary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributary
Noun
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After hatching in 2000, 1018 was brought to Florida and released alongside seven others in 2001 near headwaters to the Everglades.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2025
-
As bodies of water, rivers already have headwaters, mouths and arms.—
Valorie Castellanos Clark,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Independent Trustee: The Court favorably noted that the trustees were not related or subordinate to the settlor, and were not beneficiaries of the trust’s income or principal.—
Martin Shenkman,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
-
The Soviets had to send troops into Budapest in 1956 and Prague in 1968 to keep the governments there subordinate to Moscow.—
Robert O. Keohane,
Foreign Affairs,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
Will Ferrell briefly stepped in as the boss of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, then James Spader took the helm for a season.—
Daysia Tolentino,
EW.com,
25 June 2025
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The mother of a 17-year-old Pompano Beach girl who faced an overnight wait outside the Pompano Beach Citi Centre branch in January is a plaintiff on a lawsuit filed Wednesday by attorney Michael Pizzi.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Walking into Colo’s Southern Cafe transports hungry diners to the bayou.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2025
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The community is home to beaches and nature trails, such as the Fontainebleau Nature Trail, which has more than 400 positive reviews on AllTrails for its unique terrain and proximity to the bayou.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In August 2004, the league launched Chivas USA, a club owned and operated by Chivas Guadalajara — allowing a Liga MX club to launch a feeder team in MLS.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
9 June 2025
-
Husband Nick planted down the left field line, watching as a proud father and former Cherry Creek feeder team coach who worked with many of the kids on the roster.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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Hence, the space has depth: pair walls painted in a soft pistachio with slightly darker trim, add bedding in a complementary green pattern or subtle stripe, and choose natural accents like woven shades, oak furniture, or boucle pillows to keep it tactile.—
Jacorey Moon,
Architectural Digest,
21 June 2025
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Beyond the North Star, define a set of complementary metrics (e.g., customer churn, ARR) that cover different aspects of product health and provide a more comprehensive picture.—
Ramalakshmi Murugan,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
But now in late May, insider Jeff Sneider and John Rocha discussed the report again, saying that trustworthy sources said that the plan was for The Punisher was to join forces with Spider-Man to fight against The Hulk.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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At this point, the aircraft have no additional orders, sources said.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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In his 1985 report, Popplewell cited the lack of fire extinguishers or clearly signposted evacuation routes as a contributory factor, along with the locked exit gates and no one knowing who was in overall control of the matchday operation.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
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The news comes in the wake of health officials announcing that Arakawa died at 65 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare condition that comes from contact with rodents, and Hackman subsequently died at 95 from heart disease, with Alzheimer's as a significant contributory factor.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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