tributary 1 of 2

noun

ˈtri-byə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce tributary (audio)
Definition of tributarynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tributary

2 of 2

adjective

as in subordinate

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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
Environmental groups sent a letter threatening to file suit against Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for spills of fuel, sewage and other substances into the Flint River and its tributaries over a period of years. — Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 30 July 2026 The fun part was reaching every pole in every neighborhood in a town crisscrossed by tributaries of the Albany River. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 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
  1. headwater
  2. subordinate
  3. branch
  4. assistant
  5. bayou
  6. complementary
  7. feeder
  8. contributory
Noun
  • The headwaters of this 1,400-mile long artery are in the Rocky Mountains, fed by melting snowpack.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • Following an exceedingly warm year that has left the Colorado River’s headwaters in the Rocky Mountains largely snowless, Lake Mead is nearing a record-low level.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of headwater
Adjective
  • These reforms, however, remain embedded in a judiciary that is subordinate to Communist Party leadership.
    — Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The Allies replied that all elements of the Japanese state would be subordinate to occupation authorities.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of subordinate
Noun
  • Filed jointly with the WGA West and East branches, the guild’s suit claims the merger violates antitrust law and would inflict irreparable harm on industry scribes.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Ann Braunstein lives off of Hutchison Road where branches and stumps line her street as well.
    — Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of branch
Adjective
  • Hawks assistant general manager Kyle Korver has stepped away from the organization, according to a person familiar with the situation.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • One of the newest components is an assistant general manager position, Tolivar said.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of assistant
Noun
  • Now the sound was muffled from the hunters as the dogs passed around a canebrake wall bordered by a dark bayou.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Day One of the conference was unfortunately a bit muted this time around as Tropical Storm Bertha ripped across the Gulf Coast, unleashing its power across the Louisiana bayou.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of bayou
Adjective
  • The conversation in Springfield about sensible housing reforms shouldn’t end, but given there’s no time to lose, complementary ideas can help bridge the gap between now and whenever Illinois gets its act together.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • There are at least two complementary explanations underlying Hack’s law.
    — Natalie Wolchover, Quanta Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of complementary
Noun
  • More than bottom feeders, the new rules also would wipe out investment incentives that helped spark more than 100 gigawatts of renewable capacity in the US.
    — Mike Feibus, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Smart pet-feeder company Petlibro suffered an outage on Tuesday, giving users a harsh reminder of the risks of relying on smart devices.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of feeder
Adjective
  • Alzheimer’s disease was a significant contributory factor in Hackman’s death.
    — Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 May 2026
  • In trademark law, there is contributory liability in two different circumstances.
    — Jess Collen, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of contributory

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tributaries
tributary
tribute
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Cite this Entry

“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tributary

Nglish: Translation of tributary for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tributary

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