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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tributary
Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2025
Several tributaries have completely dried up, Emergency Manager with UNICEF Antonio Marro told CBS News.
—Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes, 8 Jan. 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
As much as one ton of arsenic is estimated to leach into tributaries of the Salmon River each year from the old mine tailings, and the fish for which the river is named have been blocked from more than 20 miles of habitat above the mine for generations.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2025
Several tributaries have completely dried up, Emergency Manager with UNICEF Antonio Marro told CBS News.
—Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes, 8 Jan. 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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The historic flow of the Colorado River extended from the headwaters in Colorado to the Gulf of California in the Mexican state of Sonora — but that flow now tapers near the border.—
Sharon Udasin,
The Hill,
24 Mar. 2025
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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
Adjective
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In China, for example, the constitution states that everything in the governmental system, including the courts, is subordinate to the leadership of the Communist Party.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
25 Mar. 2025
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The email was addressed to all subordinate commanders, and the subject line read in all capital letters: URGENT SAFETY OF FLIGHT ISSUE.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
15 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Successful adaptation to political changes in America lies in the symbiotic relationship between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.—
Blake D. Morant,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Advertisement Musk, the Tesla chief who purchased Twitter and has vowed to populate Mars, has been a colossal distraction and a magnet for controversy from what should be a unified Republican team in control of the House, the Senate, and the executive branch.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
2 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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Spiked rims mostly serve as decoration, especially those attached to private vehicles like the one recorded in Houston and others around the bayou area.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American-Statesman,
29 Nov. 2024
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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Ai instead found his opportunity in the feeder classes of MotoGP, beginning with the Asia Talent Cup, graduating to the Red Bull Rookies Cup, then into Moto3 and Moto2.—
Jonathan Hawkins,
CNN Money,
5 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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Legendary is eyeing a 2026 production start, another source adds.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
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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
Adjective
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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
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Alzheimer’s disease was a significant contributory factor in Hackman’s death.—
Evan Bush,
NBC News,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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