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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of tributary
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
John Bacon, USA Today, 15 May 2025
The tunnel will be along Piney Branch stream, a tributary to Rock Creek.
—ArsTechnica, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tributary
Noun
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
Adjective
Children, teachers rescued from Westernport, Maryland, school In Maryland, the North Branch Potomac River and some tributaries crashed through their banks Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of schools and businesses.
—John Bacon, USA Today, 15 May 2025
The tunnel will be along Piney Branch stream, a tributary to Rock Creek.
—ArsTechnica, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tributary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributary
Noun
-
Kerrville and west into the town of Hunt are the headwaters of the river.—
July 7,
CBS News,
7 July 2025
-
On Saturday, May 24, the Seward Fire Department was dispatched to a rescue in the Fourth of July Creek headwaters amid reports that a 61-year-old male was underneath a boulder, a news release shared on Facebook confirmed.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
These institutions provide checks and balances in a way that would almost seem to draw on American traditions of government — with the profound difference that all institutions in Iran are ultimately subordinate to just one power, Khamenei's.—
Steve Inskeep,
NPR,
25 June 2025
-
Columban monasteries remained free of the control of local bishops and were instead directly subordinate to the pope.—
Bernd Roeck
June 16,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
Recreate a forest setting by planting azaleas among trees, tree stumps and branches, leaves, pine cones, and other items found in a forest.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 July 2025
-
The constitution grants Congress the power to levy tariffs under normal circumstances, though tariffs can also result from executive branch investigations regarding national security risks.—
Josh Boak,
Twin Cities,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Walking into Colo’s Southern Cafe transports hungry diners to the bayou.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2025
-
The community is home to beaches and nature trails, such as the Fontainebleau Nature Trail, which has more than 400 positive reviews on AllTrails for its unique terrain and proximity to the bayou.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
There is bran in the sachet for feeder mites to feed on, and a pinhole for the predatory mites to climb out and disperse.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 July 2025
-
These are piercing, sucking feeders that can reduce plant vigor and lead to some leaf decline.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
This signals that Reed is set up to be a complementary wide receiver as opposed to being an outside X receiver that could dominate that team's target share.—
Steve Bradshaw,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
The Princess of Wales, 43, and her daughter subtly coordinated their outfits in complementary shades.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
The senior bonus deduction, Watson points out, applies to any source of taxable income that a taxpayer who is 65 or older has and may not necessarily eliminate all tax on Social Security benefits.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
14 July 2025
-
One anonymous source donated 40 units, but since then, White said, there have been few, if any, such offerings.—
Jerry Shnay,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
In his 1985 report, Popplewell cited the lack of fire extinguishers or clearly signposted evacuation routes as a contributory factor, along with the locked exit gates and no one knowing who was in overall control of the matchday operation.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
-
The news comes in the wake of health officials announcing that Arakawa died at 65 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare condition that comes from contact with rodents, and Hackman subsequently died at 95 from heart disease, with Alzheimer's as a significant contributory factor.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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