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
An Israeli drone buzzes over a sea of debris in northern Gaza, where homes were turned into mass graves.
—
Anas Baba, NPR, 6 May 2026
Formed by volcanic debris a quarter of a million years ago, the alkaline, algae-rich lakes attract giant flocks of hungry flamingos, along with a vast variety of wading and migratory birds.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Freeport residents have resorted to reporting the debris to Caltrans, but Newton said that's not sustainable.
—Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 6 May 2026
This created more drag, which slowed the debris pieces' orbit and sped up their descent.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for debris
Anas Baba, NPR, 6 May 2026
Formed by volcanic debris a quarter of a million years ago, the alkaline, algae-rich lakes attract giant flocks of hungry flamingos, along with a vast variety of wading and migratory birds.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Freeport residents have resorted to reporting the debris to Caltrans, but Newton said that's not sustainable.
—Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 6 May 2026
This created more drag, which slowed the debris pieces' orbit and sped up their descent.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for debris
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debris
Noun
-
Secure garbage and recycling bags.—
Barbara Bellesi Zito,
Southern Living,
8 May 2026
-
Investigators said nearly 6,500 pets were promised a proper burial by Vereb, but instead their bodies were dumped in landfills or left in leaking garbage bags.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Fire marshals said one person found dead in the rubble Wednesday in the Mott Haven building, located on Third Avenue between 139th and 140th Streets.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
-
Also, reusing local rubble reduces the carbon emissions from transporting heavy sand and gravel across long distances.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Pieces of trash, including an empty Pacifico beer can, gather dust on the floor behind the counter.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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Her choice would have been to ask if the interviewer would prefer the trash in the basket (avoiding any jokes about the interviewer having missed the target) and then proceed accordingly.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Prospect left a trail of wreckage exceeding anything the state’s healthcare industry had ever endured.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
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In the Season 22 finale of the ABC medical drama, Owen survives a bridge collapse on his way to work and, true to form, springs into action to save all four members of a family who were also caught in the wreckage.—
Max Gao,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Wipe the slats with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to pick up as much dust as possible.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
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Regularly clean the filters, vents, and coils to prevent dust buildup and use a programmable timer to avoid running the unit constantly.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Other people are giving up on remote Nyatim and going home to ruins.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
There are ancient ruins hidden among the peaks of Colombia, and floating islands on Peru’s most sacred lake.—
Carla Vianna,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
From the Japanese point of view, leaving rubbish piled up in a stadium would be a bother to others.—
Stephen Wade,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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Local villages are actively monitoring the oceans and reefs in their environment, and backlash to a recent plan from a billionaire Australian to build a giant plant to incinerate rubbish in Fiji was loud and well organized, says Singh.—
MIchelle Duff,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And today the district, which is in charge of the lake’s restoration, regularly harvests thousands of pounds of gizzard shad, a bottom-feeding junk fish that stirs up and eats nutrients on the lake floor.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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In reality, this is junk science and government overreach.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debris.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debris. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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