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
Even after charred debris was cleared from lots where homes burned and after the houses that remained standing were remediated, testing has revealed concentrations of lead high enough to sicken children.
—
Aarne Heikkila, NBC news, 14 May 2026
Idaho Power recommends switching out air filters and cleaning debris from HVAC units, especially when they’re kept outside.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 14 May 2026
The best termite prevention methods are moisture control, removal of debris and firewood near the home, and regular inspections for activity.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 May 2026
Musk posted, along with a user video of the Starship debris raining down near the Atlantic Ocean.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for debris
Aarne Heikkila, NBC news, 14 May 2026
Idaho Power recommends switching out air filters and cleaning debris from HVAC units, especially when they’re kept outside.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 14 May 2026
The best termite prevention methods are moisture control, removal of debris and firewood near the home, and regular inspections for activity.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 May 2026
Musk posted, along with a user video of the Starship debris raining down near the Atlantic Ocean.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for debris
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debris
Noun
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Some argue that parking, sewer and garbage – the infrastructure designed for single-family homes – is being stretched too thin.—
Lee Cowan,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
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However, the playoffs have delivered over and over to viewers and rewarded us for putting up with garbage regular-season games.—
David Troy,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Ayman al-Zain watched on a recent afternoon as a bulldozer cleared the rubble of what used to be his sports clothing store, which was one of dozens of buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes against the Hezbollah militant group.—
Malak Harb,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
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City officials said 24 bodies had been recovered from the rubble and about 30 people had been rescued alive.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Why should New Yorkers pay more than half a billion dollars annually just to get rid of trash and make other communities sick?—
Justin Sanchez,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
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Allowing people to obtain free water using their own reusable bottles will cut down on the waste produced by plastic bottles, which end up in the trash and ultimately take up space in landfills for hundreds of years, officials said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Rescuers work at the wreckage of an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft east of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 10, 2019.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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The indictment also charges Synergy with violations of the Clean Water Act and other environmental laws due to river pollution from debris from the wreckage of both the ship and the bridge.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Dirty filters can cause allergies by circulating dust, mold, and other allergens throughout your home when the AC is on during the summer.—
Hiranmayi Srinivasan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 May 2026
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Their modus operandi is to rescue interesting old buildings in a sorry state of disrepair and liberally sprinkle fairy dust over them.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Noun
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The ruins of the theater have long since been carted away.—
James Verini,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
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The team had been checking for ruins around the Bauhaus retail center before further commercial development proceeded in the area, continuing work started in 2011 with the discovery of an early Christian church there.—
Anne Doran,
ARTnews.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Trash pickup Chris Barnett, Orion Township supervisor, said residents of his community will be allowed to place more bagged trash outside at their next Waste Management pickup day to help handle overflow rubbish from paper plates, etc.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
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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
Noun
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Prices climb, yields drop, and the only deals left are in junk that nobody wants for good reason.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
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Colleges are failing today’s young adults — beyond grade inflation, junk courses and trading facts for ideology.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debris.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debris. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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