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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as in subordinate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tributary
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The Patuxent River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, for instance, has experienced high rates of salinization in recent years.
—Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2025
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
Every little narrative stream formed a tributary to the greater story.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The Patuxent River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, for instance, has experienced high rates of salinization in recent years.
—Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2025
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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These projects manage most of the major reservoirs on the western side of the Sierra Nevada range, from the headwaters of the San Joaquin River to Shasta on the Sacramento River in the state’s far north.—
Tom Philp,
The Mercury News,
20 Mar. 2025
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Northern areas of Colorado — including on the Yampa River and near the Colorado River’s headwaters north of Kremmling — have above-normal snowpack.—
Elise Schmelzer,
The Denver Post,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Look at rumors, gossip, metaphors, euphemisms, folktales—all the means by which subordinate groups disguise their opposition.—
Nikil Saval,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
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As subsidiaries, they are often deprived of strategic independence and fiscal autonomy, rendering long-term growth plans subordinate to broader organizational priorities.—
Priya Oberoi,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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His top officials repeated his claim that what happens next is solely up to El Salvador and that courts can't direct how the executive branch engages in foreign relations.—
Alexandra Hutzler,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Executive branch heads were directed to report back regularly on its implementation.—
Julia Mueller,
The Hill,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But in the bayou parishes, southwest of New Orleans, qui is used for both.—
Aubri Juhasz,
NPR,
19 Mar. 2025
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Instead of a briar patch, guests are now taken through the Louisiana bayou, to help Louis the alligator find a band to play during a big Mardi Gras celebration thrown by Tiana — which is shown in all its glory at the very end of the attraction.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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When the airline industry was deregulated in the 1970s and 80s, major airlines shifted their network structure and placed greater value on more direct control over those feeder flights.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
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Again, be sure the components are dry before reassembling the feeder.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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These homes, including the sprawling $22 million penthouse, have been designed in a complementary style, with natural stone finishes in the bathrooms and Calacatta countertops in the kitchens.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2025
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The model wore a rigid cotton denim with a jacquard-weave pattern top and complementary jeans for his attire to the red carpet event.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Constructed from Alexander Graham Bell’s simple tetrahedron cell, the Cygnet model consists of two equilateral paper triangles, connected and illuminated by a hidden light source.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Legendary is eyeing a 2026 production start, another source adds.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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It was later determined that the French Connection star died around Feb. 17 from heart disease with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributory factor, while Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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