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 The aircraft was reduced to fire, ash and a field of debris, and all aboard were killed. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026 A lot of vehicles, debris and even a police car have floated down the water, Earley said. — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026 As Earth plows through the debris streams, tiny particles slam into our atmosphere at 65,000 miles per hour (104,607 kilometers per hour), producing dazzling streaks of light across the night sky. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2026 Use a crevice attachment to vacuum debris from the window tracks and a soft-brush attachment to remove dust from the windowsills. — Brigitt Earley, Martha Stewart, 4 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for debris

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debris

Noun

Pumpkins get buried under other garbage in landfills and decompose without oxygen, releasing the potent greenhouse gas methane into the atmosphere.

— Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026
All 32 packs of the above got sent into the garbage with Stop Sales.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of garbage

Noun

Ivan Fedorov, co-chair of the regional defense council, said 12 bodies pulled from the rubble had been identified so far.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2026
The latest Russian aerial barrage underscored the scale of the rebuilding task, as did the ongoing search for people missing beneath rubble after a deadly airstrike in southern Ukraine on Monday.

— Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of rubble

Noun

Plus, most rooms have a recycling bin in addition to a trash bin in the larger kitchenettes and the custom mattresses are eco-friendly, US made, and toxin-free.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
Thompson said the interior was also littered with trash, drugs and bodily fluids.

— CBS News, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of trash

Noun

On Tuesday, Baptist pastor Vladyslav Makhovskyi had joined the search for survivors in the wreckage of the school and underground shelter where villagers from Komyshuvakha had sought safety.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
As Paladin drives off, contract finally fulfilled, an estate guard with a rocket launcher blows his murder-van into flaming wreckage.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of wreckage

Noun

Democrats won legislative trifectas big enough to pass progressive bills that had gathered dust and lint under Republican control.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Flat fields, which depict a uniform light background, help correct for defects caused by telescope optics, dust spots, and variations in pixel sensitivity.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of dust

Noun

Pre-Columbian ruins are always near, reachable by boat, trek, and car, on excursions organized by the hotel.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
But as the day wore on, bodies wrapped in white plastic sheets were carried from the ruins and laid in rows as smoke drifted across the shattered landscape.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of ruins

Noun

The robots are expected to handle several tasks, including stocking and organizing shelves, preparing coffee and hot food, greeting customers, and clearing rubbish.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
Voters on Wednesday will elect councilors, who will then choose mayors to oversee municipal services, including water, sanitation and rubbish collection.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of rubbish

Noun

Secret Santa aside, these budget-friendly gift ideas also make for some of the best stocking stuffers that aren’t junk, as well as gifts for friends, teachers, and co-workers.

— Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 2 Nov. 2026
Put junk into it, and more junk will come out, as the saying goes.

— Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of junk

Browse Nearby Words

debriefs

debris

debs

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“Debris.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debris. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of debris

noun

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