as in debris
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
clearing the rubble after the earthquake
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rubble
Search and rescue personnel were immediately dispatched to the site of the noon explosion, and determined nine people were caught under the rubble.
—
ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Addie Mae’s younger sister, Sarah Collins Rudolph, was pulled alive from the rubble.
—John Archibald, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
When buildings are heavily damaged or collapse, the rubble often contains crushed concrete, gypsum and carcinogenic fibrous materials, such as asbestos.
—Armin Sorooshian, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
Iran says it is buried under the rubble of last year's war.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rubble
ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Addie Mae’s younger sister, Sarah Collins Rudolph, was pulled alive from the rubble.
—John Archibald, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
When buildings are heavily damaged or collapse, the rubble often contains crushed concrete, gypsum and carcinogenic fibrous materials, such as asbestos.
—Armin Sorooshian, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
Iran says it is buried under the rubble of last year's war.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rubble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubble
Noun
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Piles of brick debris were also seen inside hospital rooms and along an exterior wall.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
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One of the biggest headaches any launch with a hatch deals with is known as FOD, or foreign-object debris, which could be as small as a piece of hair trapped in the seal where the hatch closes.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The runway where two pilots died in a collision between a jet and a fire truck reopened Thursday morning at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, which had been operating at limited capacity all week as investigators examined the wreckage and work crews cleaned up debris.—
Philip Marcelo,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
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SpaceX has been using the port for years to receive components for Starbase’s construction and wreckage from Starships that have crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.—
Brandon Lingle,
San Antonio Express-News,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Hop a boat to Devenish Island, where the monastic ruins feel quietly cinematic.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
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For those in pursuit of historical sites, its ancient ruins and museums lined with artifacts should entice.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubble. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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