1
: sediment contained in a liquid or precipitated (see precipitate entry 1 sense 3a) from it : lees
—usually used in plural
coffee dregs at the bottom of the cup
2
: the most undesirable part
—usually used in plural
the dregs of society
3
: the last remaining part : vestige
—usually used in plural
the last dregs of fuel
Examples of dreg in a Sentence
poured the dregs into the sink
Recent Examples on the Web
Finding the right tune each night in the dregs of the regular season is a more difficult challenge.
—
Michael Shapiro, Chron, 22 Apr. 2023
The woman, perhaps a prostitute, is shown flicking dregs of wine from a cup at a target in a game the Greeks called kottabos.
—Tom Mashberg, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2023
After completing the final episode, I was reminded of the early comparison to The Hunger Games, the dystopian novel and film in which teenagers from society’s dregs murder each other on television to entertain the genteel.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 9 Mar. 2023
Such critics in turn have usually not listened to the stories and experience of those who have drunk the current medical cocktail of gender transitioning to its bitter dregs— the growing numbers of detransitioners.
—John Grabowski, National Review, 3 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for dreg
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Michael Shapiro, Chron, 22 Apr. 2023
The woman, perhaps a prostitute, is shown flicking dregs of wine from a cup at a target in a game the Greeks called kottabos.
—Tom Mashberg, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2023
After completing the final episode, I was reminded of the early comparison to The Hunger Games, the dystopian novel and film in which teenagers from society’s dregs murder each other on television to entertain the genteel.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 9 Mar. 2023
Such critics in turn have usually not listened to the stories and experience of those who have drunk the current medical cocktail of gender transitioning to its bitter dregs— the growing numbers of detransitioners.
—John Grabowski, National Review, 3 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for dreg
Cite this Entry
“Dreg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dreg. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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