1
as in limbs
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant
I loved climbing among the branches of that old tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
3
as in tributaries
a stream that flows into a larger body of water
the Blue Nile, the Atbara, and the White Nile are the three primary branches of the Nile River
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in departments
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization
the two branches of the U.S. Congress
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in radiates
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point
threads branched from the center of the spider web
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of branches
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Local forecast updates are issued by regional NWS branches via the agency’s website and social media channels.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
The second postcard displays a tree that is bursting with coins, as if money is sprouting from the branches.
—Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
The roots anchor in the soil, providing a firm foundation for stems, branches, and leaves.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
Ghazzawi is best known for his Dubai beach club, Cove Beach, which expanded to Las Vegas in 2019 and has plans to open branches in California and Miami.
—Deena Sabry, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
The permit allows for one tree up to 10 feet tall, plus an armload of branches and some pinecones.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 7 Nov. 2025
In the six months since the bill’s last debate in parliament, more than 120,000 young adults have started smoking, claimed the letter, signed by the leaders of major hospitals, cancer charities, and branches of the National Health Service (NHS).
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Noise of trees crackling and sap hissing, branches thumping down, timber being dragged and chopped.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.
—Verb
His demise, paired with the disappearance of mobster-type Nicky Caccimelio (Bobby Cannavale), sets the trio on the first phase of their adventures, which inevitably branches into fresh red herrings in customary Only Murders fashion.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for branches
Noun
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Watch for falling debris and tree limbs.—
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Flashover typically causes severe burns, particularly on the face, beck and upper limbs, often combined with critical inhalation injures from radiant heat and superheated gases.—
Noun
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Hyundai affiliates and partners play key roles.—
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Each of the club’s minor league affiliates will be under the direction of a new manager this season.—
Noun
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The glaciers of Cayambe, Antisana, and Cotopaxi are the sources of one of those tributaries—the Río Napo.—
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The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most famous waterways, and its stretch of the Colorado River and its tributaries are protected.—
Noun
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The technology uses sound to detect gunfire and alerts police departments to the area of that sound.—
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The legislation would modify federal highway and freight safety programs to allow grant recipients, such as state departments of transportation, to use vehicle telematics and predictive analytics to identify infrastructure concerns.—
Verb
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Ethereally beautiful, with platinum hair, Fastvold radiates calm, a complement to Seyfried’s quicksilver curiosity, though both women have about them an inspiring clarity.—
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When a fire begins in a room without ventilation, the heat radiates downward, eventually engulfing all combustible items in its path, causing a flashover, per NFPA.—
Noun
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Controlling this behavior has been one of the foremost obstacles to realizing high-performance thermal cells.—
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As a result, liver immune cells produce more PAF-R receptors, which intensifies inflammation and worsens liver damage.—
Noun
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Some of those people have been arrested directly by ICE agents while others have been arrested by other law enforcement agencies, placed on immigration holds within county jails and then arrested by ICE while being held.—
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Powell testified before Congress in June, saying the renovation was a collaboration with various agencies and that costs had changed over time.—
Verb
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Leaving broken branches and stems in place potentially makes branch damage worse, allows bark to tear further, and leaves plants more exposed to diseases and winter winds.—
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Now is the time to prune back stems to create a uniform, fuller shape and promote branching for more flowers next season.—
Cite this Entry
“Branches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/branches. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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