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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tributary
Cutter Martin, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
In Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska, a tributary to the Akillik River lost all its juvenile Dolly Varden and slimy sculpin fish after an abrupt increase in stream acidity when the stream turned orange.
—Matthew L. Druckenmiller, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
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 Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability has been monitoring Scott's Level Branch, a tributary of Gwynns Falls in Baltimore County.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
In Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska, a tributary to the Akillik River lost all its juvenile Dolly Varden and slimy sculpin fish after an abrupt increase in stream acidity when the stream turned orange.
—Matthew L. Druckenmiller, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
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
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Record-low snowpack in the Colorado River headwaters in central and northern Colorado suggests nature is unlikely to give negotiators breathing room.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Because of the mine’s location — at the headwaters of the BWCA — any potential pollution or acid mine drainage would likely flow into the wilderness area, Voyageurs National Park, and Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There can never again be a DED, even if Sherrill promises that Roehrenbeck will be subordinate to Garcia.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
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The inspector general's investigation found that Reece and Ruff — who were supervisor and subordinate — did not disclose their romantic relationship, which is a violation of a city executive order.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Thursday at Granada coffee shop in Angelino Heights, on one of those 73-degree winter mornings in Los Angeles when the sky glows its sunniest cobalt-blue through bare branches.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Start with the bottom branches to avoid adding more weight to lower limbs.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Chicot State Park, Louisiana A visit to Chicot State Park will set you deep in the bayou surroundings of Chicot Lake, which is stocked with bass, crappie, red-ear sunfish, and bluegill.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2026
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Jilted by Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss nonetheless beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl but Pete Golding, the new man in charge, wasn’t quite sure which of his coaches would be coming with him to prep for a semifinal date with Miami and who was making the short ride across the bayou to Baton Rouge.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Defensive coordinator Chris Shula, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase interviewed for NFL head coach positions and assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant interviewed with the Chargers about a defensive coordinator position.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Allen later was hired as the assistant head football coach, offensive coordinator, head track and head wrestling coach at Lincoln.—
Greg Riddle,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Vendors will offer enclosures, feeders and accessories.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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In addition to business jets, Bombardier makes the CRJ regional jets used on feeder flights, which typically take passengers from smaller airports to larger airports.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In portfolios, gold typically serves as the anchor while silver plays a complementary role that can amplify returns during rallies.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
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For fall, Deke is expanding beyond shorts into pants that will offer the same construction and materials, along with an assortment of complementary tops.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Transportation will determine whether White Stadium functions as a community asset or becomes a recurring source of congestion, neighborhood disruption, and political backlash.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
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Earlier in the season, there was a minor controversy over whether the film’s changes to the source material — making its hero less explicitly racist and less complicit in the victimization of a Chinese laborer — sanded down the tale’s rough edges.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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