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
The bridge also has a self-cleaning mechanism, where debris naturally rolls toward collection traps during tilting.
—
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
If enough satellites are in orbit, this debris could set off a chain reaction, rendering the environment around Earth practically impassable.
—Big Think, 15 Oct. 2025
An additional 62 canisters rest horizontally nearby — 50 of them filled with fuel assemblies from the time the facility generated power and another 12 containing radioactive debris from dismantling the plant.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Most heavy machinery in Gaza is destroyed, cement and spare parts are urgently needed and vast amounts of debris still block the streets.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debris
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
If enough satellites are in orbit, this debris could set off a chain reaction, rendering the environment around Earth practically impassable.
—Big Think, 15 Oct. 2025
An additional 62 canisters rest horizontally nearby — 50 of them filled with fuel assemblies from the time the facility generated power and another 12 containing radioactive debris from dismantling the plant.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Most heavy machinery in Gaza is destroyed, cement and spare parts are urgently needed and vast amounts of debris still block the streets.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debris
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debris
Noun
-
Local services like garbage pickup and libraries may close in observance of the holiday as well.—
Addy Bink,
The Hill,
12 Oct. 2025
-
As those flies landed, so did Stop Sale Orders on all that food that got thrown in the garbage.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
News footage showed Red Cross vehicles traveling through the rubble of Gaza on route to an Israeli military base in Southern Israel.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Many returned to their homes over the weekend, only to find them under heaps of rubble.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Through the tear gas and dust, his family recognized Retes’ car and the veteran decal on his window.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The shutdown continues, but somehow the news cycle rolls on, kicking up moderately entertaining quiz questions like so much dust.—
Holly J. Morris,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Two broken palm trees rested on the wreckage.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Two people were pulled from the helicopter wreckage and three others on the ground were hurt, a city of Huntington Beach spokesperson said in a statement.—
Alyssa Pone,
ABC News,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bauer said city officials don’t want anyone to lose their home because of a trash bill.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
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Prosecutors said Hernandez choked Etan, stuffed his body into a plastic garbage bag hidden inside a box and took it out with the trash.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The enclave lies in ruins, and a vast majority of the population lives without adequate access to shelter and medical care.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Their existence ended with a mysterious collapse, leaving behind ruins of their cities in Guatemala's northernmost corner.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This was due to the incredible amount of rubbish that had been left to pile up inside.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
-
This is absolute rubbish, calculated to pour gasoline on the growing divide between conservatives and progressives.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Tedesco's father grew up on the north end of Detroit in a home without heat, across from a railroad and junk yard.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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While in 2019 about 13,700 objects (including space junk) zoomed around the planet in low Earth orbit (LEO), at altitudes below 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers), that number has since risen to 24,185 objects in 2025, an increase of 76%, according to the study.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debris.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debris. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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