as in debris
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the expanse of tree stumps represented the detritus of a vast forest that had been mercilessly clear-cut
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 detritus
The 2018 self-emptying Roomba i7+ vacuum was even able to tidy dust and detritus from specific rooms using mapping technology.
—
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2025
There’s a particular poignance to Manousos giving this speech — an honest-to-goodness monologue by his standards — at the Darién Gap, amid the detritus of migrants who have shed their belongings to take this path from South to Central America.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Such time-collapsing epiphanies come easily because Orkney is strewn with detritus from every stage of human history.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
This little shell is the perfect place to stash life’s detritus (earbuds, jewelry, car keys) or it can be used as an ashtray, if so inclined.
—Melissa Locker, Time, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detritus
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2025
There’s a particular poignance to Manousos giving this speech — an honest-to-goodness monologue by his standards — at the Darién Gap, amid the detritus of migrants who have shed their belongings to take this path from South to Central America.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Such time-collapsing epiphanies come easily because Orkney is strewn with detritus from every stage of human history.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
This little shell is the perfect place to stash life’s detritus (earbuds, jewelry, car keys) or it can be used as an ashtray, if so inclined.
—Melissa Locker, Time, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detritus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detritus
Noun
-
Fernando is looking to eventually publish a catalog of seismically tracked, entering space objects, while improving future calculations by factoring in the wind’s effect on falling debris.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
During all that time, miniscule rocks and debris should continue to to collide and merge into the building blocks of future gas and terrestrial planets.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The United Nations Office for Project Services says Gaza has more than 60 million tons of rubble, enough to fill nearly 3,000 container ships.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The United Nations says unexploded shells and missiles are everywhere in Gaza, posing a threat to people searching through rubble to find their relatives, belongings and kindling.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Set in the final days of World War II, the film follows a small unit of American soldiers sent behind enemy lines to locate the wreckage of an unidentified object.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Now, dedicated fans and customers of the longtime restaurant known for its unique take on Midwestern tacos are rallying behind the beloved spot aiming to keep the business afloat in the midst of the wreckage that has now temporarily closed its doors.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Dickert survived the ruins of the Washington State program, taking them to three bowl games in four years.—
Darren Cooper,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
In Rhyolite, the ruins of a bank, bottle house, and train depot serve as reminders of a once-booming mining town.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detritus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detritus. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
