distributary

noun

Definition of distributarynext
as in tributary

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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 distributary Delhi gets its water from the Yamuna river, while Kolkata uses water from the Hooghly river, a distributary of the Ganga. — Sanjana Venkatesan, Quartz India, 2 July 2019 In 1831, a pathway was dredged between a distributary of the Mississippi and the Red, leading to the formation of the present Atchafalaya river channel. — Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com, 12 Dec. 2017 Saline water has long been invading the delta, but because of the drought there is not enough fresh water in the river and its distributaries to dilute the seawater. — Jane Perlez, New York Times, 28 May 2016 To the left another plume is coming from the Atchafalaya River, a distributary of the Mississippi. — Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2013
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distributary
  1. tributary
  2. canal
  3. waterway
  4. branch
  5. influent
  6. watercourse
Noun
  • One solution is to pay water users upstream, who draw from the same tributary rivers, to adopt conservation practices that let more water reach the lake.
    — Silvia Console Battilana, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The altitude offers incredible vistas of the wetlands that border the Tanana River, one of the largest tributaries of the mighty Yukon.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of tributary
Noun
  • There were no signs that the shark had been feeding regularly during its monthlong stay in the canal, and falling water temperatures could pose additional health risks, officials say.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Musk already has this via Larry, a close business associate who bankrolled the Twitter buy, but writing an eleven-figure check has a funny way of prying open the canal further.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of canal
Noun
  • Its main street is lined with shops selling handblown glass and cozy knits, and colorful boats bob along its winding waterways.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Attacks on ships and oil infrastructure in the waterway have produced oil spills visible from space.
    — Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of waterway
Noun
  • The new record reveals a deep reverence for an acutely lyrical branch of Atlanta rap.
    — Narsimha Gour Chintaluri, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The universe becomes a superposition of different universes, one for each branch of the wave function.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of branch
Noun
  • So far, the city has completed several major components of the Springbrook improvement project, including adding in an ultraviolet disinfection system that replaced the facility’s old chlorine disinfection system and adding new pumps at the influent pump station.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The influent flow is slowed to allow human and food organic waste to settle on the bottom of the tank.
    — The Seattle Times, The Seattle Times, 29 Apr. 2017
Definition of influent
Noun
  • Father and son were swept away by a landslide in the city of Arequipa in a neighborhood built directly over an ancient natural watercourse.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • At the same time, there are riparian natives — those that grow along watercourses — which may need regular attention in terms of water needs for many years after planting.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of watercourse

Browse Nearby Words

distributaries
distributary
distribute
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Cite this Entry

“Distributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distributary. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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