as in debris
discarded or useless material
much of the material in the file cabinets is just deadwood
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deadwood
With Rich's ghostly helping hand, Will, Lilly, Ronnie, and Marge are able to plant the dagger in the deadwood's roots, re-lock the cage, and send It back into one of its 27-year hibernation periods.
—
Megan McCluskey, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit states that the branch fell from a tree that was clearly unhealthy, decayed and had deadwood.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
And some old-growth forests have abundant deadwood, both standing and on the ground, whereas others are kept largely clear of deadwood by frequent fires.
—Reed Frederick Noss, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025
But deadwood—and the biodiversity associated with it—has severely declined in many forests worldwide.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadwood
Megan McCluskey, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit states that the branch fell from a tree that was clearly unhealthy, decayed and had deadwood.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
And some old-growth forests have abundant deadwood, both standing and on the ground, whereas others are kept largely clear of deadwood by frequent fires.
—Reed Frederick Noss, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025
But deadwood—and the biodiversity associated with it—has severely declined in many forests worldwide.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadwood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadwood
Noun
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The helicopter crashed about 50 feet from a BNSF Railway line and spread debris across the tracks, according to the railway.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And the magic elixir is able to turn garbage into Jan Ravnik, Swift's pinup backup dancer.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
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Every winter, construction machines work around the clock to clear tons of garbage — plastic, furniture, medical waste — clogging the Drina River.—
Eldar Emric,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Piles of human scraps offer a bottomless buffet to wildlife, and to access that bounty, animals need to be bold enough to rummage through human rubbish but not so bold as to become a threat to people.—
Marina Wang,
Scientific American,
14 Nov. 2025
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Helga once wrestled down a drunk fisherman in the Café, a man of above-average size, and then threw him out like a piece of rubbish; Jens thus transfers most of his weight automatically to her; who is this kid, by the way?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Perfect for lounging around the house, walking the dog, taking out the trash, or wearing to the movie theater, this platform clog is an indoor slipper with a durable outsole sturdy enough for outdoor use.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Feb. 2026
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Place the racks in a large, heavy-duty black plastic trash bag and spray them liberally with undiluted vinegar.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Other ideas include thrift store shopping, country line dancing, roller skating, karaoke, junk journaling, and getting manicures and pedicures.—
Alicia Rancilio,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
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In uncertain markets, some investors like junk silver because the coins are widely trusted, easy to authenticate and often easy to sell in small increments.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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How Often To Clean Linoleum Floors For general cleaning, Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, recommends removing dust and debris in high-traffic areas daily using a dry microfiber mop.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
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Simply take a soft cloth with a mild cleaner and give them a wipe—both to remove dust and grime, and to clear off any lingering germs that might hop from person to person.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deadwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadwood. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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