as in creeks
a natural body of running water smaller than a river
small rivulets trickled down the side of the cliff
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Recent Examples of rivulets
His uniform and scalp were lined with glistening rivulets of oil, water, soot and sweat.
—
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In this piercing account of the American Dream in tatters, the magnitude of that dimension feels appropriate, echoing the currents of betrayal, fear and death that course through the film like rivulets of blood.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
But rivulets of sunblock still ran down everyone’s necks.
—Erin Tan, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Even after the leaks were plugged with cement, rivulets of oil persisted for months, and the oil spill’s ecological and cultural impacts lasted even longer.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Hot stones are added, one by one, as the air inside gets heavier, the heat searing the nose and the throat, the sweat starting in rivulets that turn into streams as the smell gets more intense, the heartbeat swells, the mind races.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
The elaborate network of rainfall, rivulets of ditches, and control structures became a sort of language for Van Lent.
—Michael Adno, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
The expanse of a cookie, its crumbly craters and molten rivulets, is a playground for the pastry chef.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2025
Perhaps those latent rivulets reside in machines.
—Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In this piercing account of the American Dream in tatters, the magnitude of that dimension feels appropriate, echoing the currents of betrayal, fear and death that course through the film like rivulets of blood.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
But rivulets of sunblock still ran down everyone’s necks.
—Erin Tan, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Even after the leaks were plugged with cement, rivulets of oil persisted for months, and the oil spill’s ecological and cultural impacts lasted even longer.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Hot stones are added, one by one, as the air inside gets heavier, the heat searing the nose and the throat, the sweat starting in rivulets that turn into streams as the smell gets more intense, the heartbeat swells, the mind races.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
The elaborate network of rainfall, rivulets of ditches, and control structures became a sort of language for Van Lent.
—Michael Adno, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
The expanse of a cookie, its crumbly craters and molten rivulets, is a playground for the pastry chef.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2025
Perhaps those latent rivulets reside in machines.
—Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivulets
Noun
-
Police and fire rescue experts say this is also serves a reminder to always wear personal flotation devices in and around rivers, creeks, ditches and lakes.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
Little creeks meandered from lake to lake and through patches of lush grassy meadows and swamps, while the trail followed the higher ground covered with spruce.—
Anton Money,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Insects drone over running brooks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The property, which features lush greenery and old-growth trees set among babbling brooks and water features, is open to the public, and the gardens have served as a popular spot for weddings over the decades in addition to an annual Mother’s Day tea that Weston said attracts hundreds each year.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rivulets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivulets. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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