Definition of detritusnext
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

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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 Still, even with Ellison’s $111 billion WBD takeover plan under threat from a state attorneys general antitrust suit, $4 million and change is sofa detritus to the son of Larry Ellison. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026 This is where the Sora 70's surface-cleaning functionality came in handy, filling the filter basket with every floating bit of detritus and leaving the pool looking as if there had been no storm at all. — John Mihaly, PC Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026 The dirty sea near the city often carried this kind of detritus to the shore. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 In the next round of Count the Rice, the rice is mixed into a large box full of paper, styrofoam, and other detritus. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for detritus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detritus
Noun
  • Sweep the deck of debris, hose it down, and scrub any trouble spots with warm, soapy water.
    — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The change also covers medical emergencies that are not the airline’s fault, the removal of unruly passengers, certain cyberattacks, and aircraft damage caused by extreme weather or debris.
    — Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Rescue crews with a sniffer dog were searching the rubble for potentially missing people, the fire department said.
    — Lefteris Pitarakis, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • There is no construction equipment to clear the rubble in Gaza.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • After the wreckage was recovered from the ocean, the report said, an examination revealed that a bearing failed in the high-pressure fuel pump.
    — Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Within minutes, Silverman and the ambulance arrived at a storage facility parking lot behind a large one-story commercial building to find LAPD officers grabbing fire extinguishers and dragging a man away from the burning wreckage.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • As the lake dries, the ruins of one of 11 villages that had been inundated by the reservoir have emerged, as alarm grows over the need for alternative water supplies for the city of 42 million.
    — EDNA TARIGAN, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The vast majority of Palestinians continue to live in tent camps or ruins of their former homes.
    — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detritus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detritus. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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