DEBRIS Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

debris

noun

də-ˈbrē

Definition of debris

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of debris Until those protocols are developed, the default will often be to treat a standing wall as debris rather than a valuable building block for the future. — Giorgia Giardina, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026 The Forest Service notes that waterfall conditions constantly change because of erosion, shifting debris and fluctuating water flows, making even familiar locations potentially hazardous. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026 Countless photographers were primed and ready to capture this magnificent display as Earth passed through the densest region of Swift-Tuttle debris trail, heralding the appearance of hundreds of shooting stars. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Piles of brush have been growing along lawns since Memorial Day weekend, some nearly five feet tall as fresh branches and leaves are heaped atop weeks-old debris. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for debris

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debris

Noun

Marcy had her hair tied up with a bow made from nylon cord and was bent over a fold-up kitchen counter rearranging wet garbage.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Polls show Farage is still likely to win, but that Count Binface — a spoof candidate who wears a garbage pail on his head — may get around 20-percent of the vote.

— Lauren Frayer, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of garbage

Noun

Hope remained alive even after the key 48 to 72 hour window to find survivors beneath the rubble has long passed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Earlier, rescuers in the port town of Maumere found 20 dead, six injured and two people trapped under rubble, said Fathur Rahman, head of the city's rescue agency.

— Reuters, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of rubble

Noun

Experts encourage people living in bear-prone areas to lock doors, keep trash and other food sources stored in bear-proof containers and avoid putting out bird feeders.

— John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
Remove any unsecured trash, food and strongly-scented items including sunscreen, deodorant and Chapstick from your vehicles and yard.

— David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of trash

Noun

The summit itself turned out to be a failure, but Washington and Moscow later climbed over its wreckage to reach new agreements.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
Barker and Goldstein suffered severe burns Barker and Goldstein were spotted a few feet from the wreckage by local resident William Owens, who had been driving near the airport.

— Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of wreckage

Noun

And in a bedroom, tucked behind the door and covered in dust, hung a nondescript print in a black and brown frame.

— Cole Reynolds, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026
Videos posted to social media showed buildings collapsing and panicked residents running and screaming, as dust filled the sky.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of dust

Noun

The frantic search for survivors has long since yielded to the grim spectacle of excavators clearing ruins.

— Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
For travelers, the designation puts a spotlight on a place where mythology isn't confined to museums and archaeological ruins.

— Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of ruins

Noun

This comes at the expense of no movement in the wrist, but to be fair, having the lightsaber pointed in any other direction would look rubbish.

— Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Only construction waste will be accepted at the landfill such as, brush and rubbish, concrete, brick, rock, wood, paper, plastics, cardboard and roofing shingles and tiles.

— Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026

Definition of rubbish

Noun

Several symbolic scenes, similarly unfolding in sinuous long takes—a ritualistic repetition of local habits at the junk yard, a formal dance of non-seduction at a luncheonette with a jukebox—lay bare the town’s ingrained and unyielding mores.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026
In a lengthy feature published Sunday, the New York Times unpacked how Oracle executive chairman and CTO Larry Ellison’s aggressive spending on AI has left his company so heavily leveraged that its bonds are nearing junk ratings.

— Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of junk

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debriefs

debris

debs

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“Debris.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debris. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of debris

noun

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