BRANCHES Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

branches 1 of 2

noun

plural of branch

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

Relevance

as in affiliates

a local unit of an organization a bank with many neighborhood branches

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

as in departments

a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization the two branches of the U.S. Congress

Synonyms & Similar Words

branches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of branch

as in radiates

to extend outwards from or as if from a central point threads branched from the center of the spider web

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 branches

Noun

Tri-County acknowledged issues with tree branches touching power lines and committed additional resources for tree trimming and system inspections, while local businesses reported lost revenue from outages that often last one to two hours. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 In addition, the parliamentarian refers to the appropriate committee legislation from the other chamber, communications from other branches of government and state and local governments, and petitions from private citizens. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 There are obviously branches of computer science in which computer hardware and software are essential, such as the design of operating systems or the study of memory management. — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 Debris hung from tree branches and wires, vehicles were buried and some stunned survivors were caked in mud. — Niranjan Shrestha, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Factor in the craft branches — editing, sound and makeup and hairstyling — and voters have plenty of boxes to check. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 O’Neill said physical branches remain critical for advisory conversations that apps and AI tools cannot duplicate. — Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026 The scientists’ method reconstructs genealogies, or maps showing where different pieces of DNA came from and how they were passed down, revealing branches of our evolutionary past. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 Install a properly fitting winter or safety cover to keep leaves, branches and other debris out while the pool isn’t in use. — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

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. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for branches

Noun

These include protective covers for the rear wheel and chain to keep clothing and limbs from accidentally getting entangled.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
Vibrio vulnificus can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a rare bacterial infection that can destroy tissue and lead to severe scarring, loss of limbs and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— Julia Gomez, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of limbs

Noun

Earlier this year, affiliates of al Qaeda and Islamic State both carried out attacks on the civilian airport and military airbase, contributing to initial suspicion that militants could have been behind the assault on the capital.

— Reuters, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Matthew Erskine & Andy Busser are not affiliates of CWM, LLC.

— Michael Gold CFP, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of affiliates

Noun

Wildlife managers and volunteers will be closing more than 14 miles of stream and tributaries in Rocky Mountain National Park on Monday to start a weeklong operation meant to clear new habitat for Colorado's state fish.

— Logan Smith, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
In Michigan, the only state entirely within the watershed, officials are testing 200 tributaries for microplastics.

— Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of tributaries

Noun

What remains less clear is why burnout continues even as firms and legal departments introduce wellness initiatives, flexible work policies, and workload reforms.

— Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Commissioner Matt Mizell asked if any of the data collected by the sheriff’s office could be shared with other departments.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of departments

Verb

What gets prototyped there radiates into field trips, after-school programs and summer camps that reach thousands of children a year.

— Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Bieniemy radiates discipline and accountability and, of course, carries an intimate understanding of the offense and has Reid’s trust.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of radiates

Noun

According to the Cleveland Clinic, oligodendrogliomas are rare brain tumors that develop from cells that help support and protect neurons, accounting for about 3% to 4% of all brain tumors.

— Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
The use of rechargeable all-solid-state cells could also reduce the frequency of battery replacement.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of cells

Verb

The affordability issue stems more from the fact that wages have not kept pace with cost of living increases over those 20 years.

— Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Over time, this can result in long stretches of bare stems closer to the pot as the plant concentrates on developing new growth on the tips of the vines.

— Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2026