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
Emergency services in Jamaica have begun clearing debris and assessing the damage left behind by the storm, according to online footage shared by Jamaican police showing officers gathered at scenes of destruction this morning.
—
Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
The two showers are grouped together because scientists believe that both the asteroid and the comet are fragments of a single, much larger object that broke up some 20,000 years ago, leaving a collection of debris known collectively as the Encke Complex.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 30 Oct. 2025
Search and rescue teams fanned out through fields of smoking debris.
—Josh Green, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debris
Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
The two showers are grouped together because scientists believe that both the asteroid and the comet are fragments of a single, much larger object that broke up some 20,000 years ago, leaving a collection of debris known collectively as the Encke Complex.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 30 Oct. 2025
Search and rescue teams fanned out through fields of smoking debris.
—Josh Green, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debris
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debris
Noun
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After an effort to create a Falls of the Ohio national park fell short in 1967, Kentucky and Indiana officials struggled to stop the falls from becoming a garbage dump.—
Leo Bertucci,
Louisville Courier Journal,
25 Oct. 2025
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Generally, what happens to the White House’s trash is secret—at least as of 2018, which was apparently the last time the federal government released any information on where Oval Office garbage goes.—
Nancy Walecki,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There, heaped into a sad pile of rubble, is a part of the world’s most recognizable structures, one that’s been etched into our minds via many film and TV series that recreated the homebase for fictional political dynasties and presidents.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
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Thousands of Palestinians are believed to be buried under the rubble.—
Ibrahim Dahman,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Kitchens require constant cleaning, as dust and grease build up on cabinet tops.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
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Unfortunately, curtains can gather a lot of dust, mold, or dirt if not cleaned every so often, and can lead to allergies and an unhygienic home.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The crash closed most of the westbound lanes of busy Interstate 10 in Ontario for several hours as CHP and crews investigated the wreck and cleared away wreckage.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Earlier this year, Miley Cyrus reflected on the wreckage and destruction caused by the fires that devastated multiple areas of Los Angeles.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In a photo posted by MLB insider Ben Verlander, Yamamoto is seen with his pitcher's glove picking up trash after his fantastic start.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
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As a plus, the mats can be washed and reused instead of going in the trash.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Once the skis come off, fill your days with excursions to castle ruins, thermal baths, and snowshoeing trails.—
Chadner Navarro,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
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In the end, their misfortune might ultimately present an opportunity to search among the ruins for a trace of dignity and grace.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One hurdle for these editors is that far-right hate is more conducive to digital slop, both because algorithms prize outlandish ragebait and because the tribalistic ideas themselves are low IQ rubbish.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
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This was due to the incredible amount of rubbish that had been left to pile up inside.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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While the rental housing industry has said that many of these rules are already best practices, Elo-Rivera said that such reassurance is not helpful to the tenants who do get hit by junk fees and other charges on top of their rent.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Oct. 2025
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Even small pieces of space junk (for example, leftover or broken pieces from space launches or nonfunctioning satellites) can have catastrophic effects.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debris.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debris. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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