1
as in garbage
discarded or useless material
the unsightly debris left after mining operations had ceased
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rubble
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the demolition workers cleared away all of the debris from the demolished building
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debris
Images shared online by the Magen David Adom emergency rescue agency showed fires and damage caused by falling debris from missile interceptions, and possibly new cluster munition impacts, in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and at least three other locations around the country.
—
CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
At the time, commissioners asked Vantage representatives how the company would handle debris and cleanup during construction.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Two people were killed and three others injured in Abu Dhabi after debris fell from a ballistic missile that was intercepted by the emirate’s air defense systems, officials said.
—Rebecca Shabad, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
There were reports of fragments and debris falling in two Israeli cities, too.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debris
CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
At the time, commissioners asked Vantage representatives how the company would handle debris and cleanup during construction.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Two people were killed and three others injured in Abu Dhabi after debris fell from a ballistic missile that was intercepted by the emirate’s air defense systems, officials said.
—Rebecca Shabad, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
There were reports of fragments and debris falling in two Israeli cities, too.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debris
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debris
Noun
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Richter and Henke said the best way to avoid confrontations with coyotes is to eliminate food sources, whether by not feeding them directly, bringing pet food indoors or securing garbage.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
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No matter how advanced the algorithm, garbage data in means garbage results out, just with a more polished interface.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Satellite images indicate that the Iranians subsequently broke through the rubble to open the tunnel entrances, perhaps to gain access to the nuclear materials.—
Sheena Samu,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile in Tehran, rescue workers were combing through rubble Friday morning trying to find survivors after overnight strikes there.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Each year, Heal the Bay collects trash from beaches and watersheds across Los Angeles County with the help of thousands of volunteers.—
CBS LA Staff,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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The fourth program, Shoreline’s Community Care employment program, hires individuals on the street to do jobs like street cleaning, sidewalk sweeping, graffiti removal, landscaping, trash removal, and custodial and janitorial work.—
Reyna Huff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 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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This model is also the brand’s most durable yet, boasting an extreme IP69 rating for water and dust resistance, paired with a versatile triple 50MP camera system that captures professional-grade detail across wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto shots.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
29 Mar. 2026
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Gusty winds up to 40 mph could create areas of blowing dust along major interstates.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
29 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
Noun
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For many centuries and probably longer, the seas and oceans of the world have been used as a source of food but also as an enormous dumping ground for all sorts of rubbish.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
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The study confirmed direct dumping by boats, with evidence of bags full of rubbish thrown overboard.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Jones is an elite defender who can score through doubles and junk defenses, and is lethal from 3, shooting 41% from distance in her career.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
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Take your household trash out back, set it on fire, and whoosh, all that junk was smoke, and no longer your problem.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debris.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debris. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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