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
Tony Schick, ProPublica, 16 Jan. 2025
Image With half the shares, the principal owner is Kibbutz Dan, where the farm is, along a tributary of the Jordan River.
—Jack Nicas, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
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
The 13 dams on the Willamette and its tributaries were built for the main purpose of holding back floodwaters in Oregon’s most heavily populated valley, which includes the city of Portland.
—Tony Schick, ProPublica, 16 Jan. 2025
Image With half the shares, the principal owner is Kibbutz Dan, where the farm is, along a tributary of the Jordan River.
—Jack Nicas, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
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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Over the course of three days, more than 30 inches of rain had fallen in Busick, 7 miles away near the South Toe’s headwaters.—
USA TODAY Graphics team,
USA TODAY,
31 Dec. 2024
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Through a series of 31 interactive exhibits, visitors journey down the Fraser River to the headwaters of the Upper Colorado River Basin, where water is diverted across the Continental Divide into metro Denver.—
Gigi Ragland,
The Denver Post,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But all our doctrines are subordinate to the question of who Jesus is.—
Gordon Pennertz,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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Annoyed by her subordinate role at Atelier (though she’s had the job for less than six months), Kriska boldly declares that Monica is self-centered.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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During a hike through Robinsons Island, visitors can spot boreal chickadees, red crossbills and yellow warblers flitting along the branches, while the refuge’s many beaches are perfect for spotting shorebirds like the willet and greater yellowlegs.—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
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The database, which was confirmed by U.S. officials and published by AP, includes more than 26,000 images that have been flagged for removal across every military branch.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The captain burned the ship and sank it in a bayou; the captives, nearly all Yoruba speakers from the same village, toiled on plantations for the next five years.—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
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This town moves slowly (except on the dance floor) and combines the best of Acadian influences, from Zydeco music and French cuisine to lakeside cabins and boat rides on the bayou.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The disruption has led to vessel wait times of up to seven days, barge congestion of 76 hours and feeder vessel delays of 72 hours.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Mar. 2025
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Sea cucumbers are scavenger feeders that use the tube feet along their belly to move along the seafloor, according to the National Wildlife Federation.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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At checkout, customers are presented with relevant accessories and complementary items that align with their specific cycling interests.—
Antony Robinson,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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Fletcher has been a key complementary running back in his first two seasons.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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For revenue from conference media deals, the department’s biggest source of income, the Seminoles projected $44.4 million in 2024 and $49.9 million in 2025, followed by a large jump to $78.9 million in 2026.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
5 Mar. 2025
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Another source said the cause of his death is unclear.—
Michael Kaplan,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Heat stress was listed as a contributory factor to her death.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Austin American-Statesman,
31 July 2024
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The oil and gas companies can raise a contributory negligence defense on two fronts.—
Ed Hirs,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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