confluence
7 synonyms and 1 antonyms for confluence, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The point where two rivers or streams meet and flow on as one.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The point where two rivers or streams meet and flow on as one.
“The city grew up at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle.”
2. noun
A situation in which several separate things come together at the same time, often with a combined effect.
“A confluence of rising rents and falling wages pushed families out of the city.”
Opposites
How to Use Confluence
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal; the river sense is geographical, the figurative sense literary.
Etymology
From Late Latin confluentia, from Latin confluere "to flow together", from con- "together" and fluere "to flow".
Full origin of confluence →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between confluence and convergence?
Confluence stresses the merging of things into a single stream or outcome, and is the standard word where rivers meet. Convergence stresses movement towards the same point without necessarily merging, and is more usual for lines, trends or technologies moving closer together.
Can confluence be used about people?
Yes, in the figurative sense: a confluence of scholars, interests or ideas describes several distinct groups or strands coming together. It is a slightly formal usage and suits writing more than speech.
What is the adjective from confluence?
Confluent. It is used both of rivers that join and, in medicine, of skin lesions or areas of disease that run together into a larger patch.