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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026
This one brought us to Rocamadour, a magnificent medieval town in Occitania, set on a cliffside above a tributary of the Dordogne River.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Sep. 2023
Sometimes the killers may be Chechens maybe organized by Putin’s other feral favourite, his tributary ruler of Russia’s Chechen republic, Kadyrov.
—Time, 24 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for tributary
Noun
The park is about 60 miles east of Rapid City, and South Dakota Route 44 is a scenic road through open prairie, farms, small towns, and ranches along Rapid Creek, a tributary of the Cheyenne River.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026
This one brought us to Rocamadour, a magnificent medieval town in Occitania, set on a cliffside above a tributary of the Dordogne River.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
That salty, terminal lake had its tributary water diverted away by the city of Los Angeles, turning it into a dry salt flat.
—Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Sep. 2023
Sometimes the killers may be Chechens maybe organized by Putin’s other feral favourite, his tributary ruler of Russia’s Chechen republic, Kadyrov.
—Time, 24 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for tributary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributary
Noun
-
The ultimate vision for P2P, as it is nicknamed, is for a 65-mile trail that follows Clear Creek from the South Platte through Denver, Wheat Ridge, Golden, Idaho Springs and Georgetown, terminating at the headwaters on Loveland Pass.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The northernmost headwaters of the Florida Everglades, Shingle Creek flows from the city into nearby Lake Tohopekaliga, eventually reaching the Everglades.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Basij is a volunteer paramilitary force subordinate to the IRGC and has played a key role in suppressing protests and enforcing government authority inside Iran.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Her costume and hair shows how Linda is restricted by her times, presumed as being subordinate to her husband.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Alexander said in the Thursday statement that the branch would continue working with lawmakers and the executive branch agencies and resume its search for an appropriate location for the program.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The mayor did not provide specifics on either plan in question with reporters following the address, referring to the MetroRail plan as a vision and the bayou taxi plan as preliminary.—
Abby Church,
Houston Chronicle,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain Down the bayou in the fictional town of La Cachette, Louisiana, Grey’s best friend, Elora, disappeared.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While there is no exact count, the number of people who perished during the journey is in the millions, according to Paul Gardullo, the assistant director of history at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Before joining the Philadelphia Common Court Pleas, Fanning served as an assistant district attorney in the child abuse unit in Bucks County.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Caught on camera If your goal is to turn birdwatching into a nature documentary, both feeders deliver.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
That diet reflects the varied eating habits of red foxes, which are opportunistic feeders.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There is now growing bipartisan recognition that the US will need two complementary engines of nuclear growth.—
John Kerry,
semafor.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Rather than replacing district funding, the organization functions as a complementary support system designed to help teachers access classroom materials without relying on personal spending.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Buying rather than leasing detention facilities will give ICE greater control over operations that would otherwise fall under state and local governments’ purview, sources said.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The highlighted business is a past winner of a Community Choice Award, and this spotlight was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), using the business’s website, Yelp reviews and online map listings as sources.—
Community's Choice Awards,
jsonline.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
