tributary 1 of 2

noun

ˈtri-byə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce tributary (audio)
Definition of tributarynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tributary

2 of 2

adjective

as in subordinate

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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 tributary
Noun
History of Belden Belden was built upon a tributary of the Feather River in the early 1900s, as the Western Pacific Railroad laid its tracks across Northern California. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026 The Middle Patuxent River runs through the property from north to south, fed by numerous tributary streams. — Susan Soldavin, Baltimore Sun, 20 Sep. 2026
Adjective
But these capitalists were encircled for hundreds of years by a sea of subsistence farmers and tributary empires that operated on completely different principles. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 Jan. 2026 History is everywhere in Okinawa, which from 1429 to 1879 was the Ryukyu Kingdom, a tributary state under China’s Ming and Qing dynasties. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tributary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tributary
  1. headwater
  2. subordinate
  3. branch
  4. assistant
  5. bayou
  6. complementary
  7. feeder
  8. contributory
Noun
  • According to the post, Kentucky State Police Aviation saw smoke in the area, and wardens and search and rescue personnel were able to access the location, near the headwaters of Cave Run Lake, using a boat.
    — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Others, like salmon, return upstream via Metro-North or the Long Island Rail Road to the suburban headwaters in which they were born, in order to spawn.
    — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of headwater
Adjective
  • But a clerical establishment that once cultivated the military to buttress its rule may end up being subordinate to it.
    — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Bucks encounter rivals, or even subordinate deer, and make scrapes in a sudden display of strength.
    — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of subordinate
Noun
  • In a welcome sign of positive change in the barrio, a new branch of Javier Bonet’s super-cool Sala de Despiece restaurant is imminent.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The workingmen’s clubs have closed, and trade-union branches have declined.
    — Vanda Mayer, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of branch
Adjective
  • Cunningham was the assistant general manager in Chicago when the Bears drafted Dexter in the second round in 2023.
    — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Beyond apprenticeships, the mayor’s childcare office is weighing opportunities for assistant teachers to become lead teachers, and partnerships with CUNY and other higher education institutions on more traditional models.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of assistant
Noun
  • Jody enjoys new experiences, cooking, running bayou trails and her goofy golden retriever, Poppy.
    — Jody Schmal, Houston Chronicle, 30 Sep. 2026
  • There are Resident Evil games set in Spanish castles, runaway trains, ocean liners, weird mansions, the bayou, and strange theme-park-like villages, with bespoke creatures in each.
    — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of bayou
Adjective
  • Then there are those who come for emotional healing like that of the newer Embracing Change Programme, a programme that blends talking therapy and deep meditation with a life enhancement mentor, with complementary treatments on the side.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Benaroya said Aspen is complementary to the mountain resorts where the brand sells in Europe.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of complementary
Noun
  • That may sound like a red flag on the surface—some smart feeders technically work without a subscription, but with so many restrictions that you may as well be forced to pay.
    — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 27 Sep. 2026
  • In fact, one of Lamper’s most viral videos shows Finn sticking his arm inside an automatic feeder to get extra food.
    — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of feeder
Adjective
  • Alzheimer’s disease was a significant contributory factor in Hackman’s death.
    — Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 May 2026
  • In trademark law, there is contributory liability in two different circumstances.
    — Jess Collen, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of contributory

Browse Nearby Words

tributaries
tributary
tribute
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on tributary

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tributary

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