Definition of detritusnext
as in debris
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed the expanse of tree stumps represented the detritus of a vast forest that had been mercilessly clear-cut

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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 detritus Its outer space is filled with cosmic detritus, mean characters and cute critters. ABC News, 24 June 2026 Despite those efforts, the pool still faced algae blooms and needed to be emptied out periodically to clean out algae, goose droppings and other detritus. Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 June 2026 Preparations have been underway for nearly a year — out of public view — as the development team Centennial Partners cleared furniture, fixtures and detritus from the 19-story building that ceased to function as a hospital in 2008. Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026 There, Li’s laboratory technician Duncan Hauser stripped microbial detritus from the hornwort’s leaves. Quanta Magazine, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for detritus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detritus
Noun
  • Launch safety, orbital debris, broadband access, AI model conduct, content moderation, data use and energy consumption belong to different industry materiality maps.
    Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • The 108-foot-long (33-meter-long) barge was loaded with construction debris, bringing its total weight to about 149 gross tons.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • On Saturday, rescue crews aided by dogs and detectors found signs of life, confirming that at least one survivor was still trapped beneath the rubble.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • There are heart-wrenching reports of people trying to dig survivors out of the rubble with their hands, with dozens of children suffering amputations because they could not be reached in time.
    Mark Weisbrot, Twin Cities, 19 July 2026
Noun
  • Music balances a cynicism about the state of the world with a never-ending quest to find meaning in the wreckage.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • The first is a tense sequence where Hwang as he and a group of men shoot their way through the wreckage of their town — only to finally come face to face with the gigantic alien preying upon them.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • The remaining tanks — many salvaged from the ruins themselves — are filled with water from the street.
    Julimar Valentina Rivas Perez, NBC news, 24 July 2026
  • Others end at ancient ruins or the base of the world’s tallest mountain.
    Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detritus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detritus. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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