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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Recent Examples of tributary
Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 19 May 2025
Paddling adventure along Lake George A paddling adventure along the shoreline of Lake George, Florida’s second largest lake and Blue Creek, a tributary of the St. John’s River, is at 9 a.m. May 16 beginning at the Lake George Boat Ramp, 58300 Lake George Road, Astor.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 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
One of its tributaries, Cattail Creek, extends off that spine like an arm reaching east.
—Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 19 May 2025
Paddling adventure along Lake George A paddling adventure along the shoreline of Lake George, Florida’s second largest lake and Blue Creek, a tributary of the St. John’s River, is at 9 a.m. May 16 beginning at the Lake George Boat Ramp, 58300 Lake George Road, Astor.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 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
-
After hatching in 2000, 1018 was brought to Florida and released alongside seven others in 2001 near headwaters to the Everglades.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2025
-
As bodies of water, rivers already have headwaters, mouths and arms.—
Valorie Castellanos Clark,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
The Soviets had to send troops into Budapest in 1956 and Prague in 1968 to keep the governments there subordinate to Moscow.—
Robert O. Keohane,
Foreign Affairs,
2 June 2025
-
This was by no means a subordinate form of identity.—
Matthew Karp,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
He’s used the executive branch to punish law firms and universities who’ve dared to go against him ideologically.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2025
-
The Smithsonian is not part of the executive branch, and the president does not choose its Board of Regents.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
From April 24 to May 4, the Fair Grounds Race Course will come alive with the colorful sights and sounds of Jazz Fest as 500,000 fans descend upon the bayou to enjoy good music, good food and offerings from local artisans.—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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From playwright Kristen Adele Calhoun, Black Cypress Bayou is set on a hot summer night in Texas, where Vernita Manifold (Kimberly Scott) summons her two daughters down to the bayou with a secret too big to keep.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
And gazing out at the magnificent views, as hummingbirds and orioles encircle the feeders.—
Irv Erdos,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
-
Light feeders, such as leafy greens, may not need any fertilizer when grown in melon pits; however, melons and other heavy feeders usually require light applications of supplemental fertilizer throughout the growing season.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
Hence, the space has depth: pair walls painted in a soft pistachio with slightly darker trim, add bedding in a complementary green pattern or subtle stripe, and choose natural accents like woven shades, oak furniture, or boucle pillows to keep it tactile.—
Jacorey Moon,
Architectural Digest,
21 June 2025
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Beyond the North Star, define a set of complementary metrics (e.g., customer churn, ARR) that cover different aspects of product health and provide a more comprehensive picture.—
Ramalakshmi Murugan,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
But now in late May, insider Jeff Sneider and John Rocha discussed the report again, saying that trustworthy sources said that the plan was for The Punisher was to join forces with Spider-Man to fight against The Hulk.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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They are linked to a single source, the county health department said June 9.—
DEVI SHASTRI,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Tributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tributary. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
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