confluent

Definition of confluentnext
as in tributary
a stream that flows into a larger body of water several confluents slowly winding their way to the main river

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of confluent Scholars have proposed different culprits, including malignant confluent smallpox whose symptoms include not only the headache, spots, and sores but also the yellowing of the skin. — National Geographic, 19 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confluent
tributary
Noun
  • The Shahtoot Dam, which would be built on a tributary of the Kabul River, could provide water for more than 2 million people in the city.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The Arapiuns flows into the Tapajos, one of the Amazon River’s major tributaries, across waterways so vast that navigating them can feel like crossing the open sea.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Confluent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confluent. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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