DROSS Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

dross

noun

ˈdräs

Definition of dross

as in garbage

discarded or useless material get rid of the dross before closing up the shop

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 dross And we are asked to make the leap ourselves—men were also sacrificed as dross. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 The downside of all of these riches is the dross accompanying the gold. — Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026 What tabloid dross tends to obscure is his impressive career—first as a star dancer at the New York City Ballet, then as a roving choreographer of complex, dynamic work that is rooted in balletic conventions but not restricted by them. — Sara Krolewski, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026 These meteors are the dross shed by the comet 169P/NEAT, whose path Earth crosses at this time each year. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 July 2025 Amongst all the dross and angst, Neil and Teddy try to talk everyone into investing in a baseball-card trading venture that might generate $500 in profits after a year. — Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 19 June 2025 But among the dross there gleam a few brilliant exceptions—deceptive, slippery books that defy the constraints of region and genre. — Charlie Lee, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025 The chipmaker is still raising cash and cutting costs though, as there seems to be quite a bit of dross. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025 Many experience mental health challenges on top of the physical toll of making something out of the unending dross Kantamanto is pummeled with. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dross

Noun

What makes a successful scooper Professional scoopers typically use basic tools like a rake, a dustpan lined with a garbage bag and a garden sprayer to sanitize tools in between jobs.

— Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Pan Yan The substance is integrated into a transparent, medium-sized insert designed to fit onto a garbage bin lid.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of garbage

Noun

Hours after the collapse in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, emergency services spokesperson Bilal Faizi said that everyone trapped beneath the rubble had been pulled out and crews had cleared debris.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
The hurricane had headed for the interior and Palm Beach was already clearing its debris.

— Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of debris

Noun

Twisted Teens are far from rubbish, but that isn't stopping them from playing in the trash for their latest music video.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
This comes at the expense of no movement in the wrist, but to be fair, having the lightsaber pointed in any other direction would look rubbish.

— Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of rubbish

Noun

There was ample physical evidence for the case against her, including DNA found on a latex glove that was in the same trash bag as Loofe’s remains.

— Samantha Bergeson, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
For example, placing a cardboard box in the trash may normally be acceptable.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of trash

Noun

As an investment-grade company, Oracle can borrow cheaply and with duration, but that would change with a junk rating, said Jamie Meyers, a senior securities analyst at Laffer Tengler, which owns Oracle stock.

— Michelle Fox, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
No one has ever been seriously injured by falling space junk, but there are a few examples of property damage.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of junk

Noun

And even for those who are holding down jobs, raises and promotions have become like gold dust.

— Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Biddy covered most of the journey on foot—the equivalent of about six million steps—herding animals at the rear of her owner’s wagon company and choking her way through a moving screen of dust kicked up by the migrant caravan.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of dust

Noun

Hours after the collapse in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, emergency services spokesperson Bilal Faizi said that everyone trapped beneath the rubble had been pulled out and crews had cleared debris.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Hours after the collapse in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, emergency services spokesperson Bilal Faizi said everyone trapped beneath the rubble had been pulled out and crews had cleared debris.

— Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of rubble

Browse Nearby Words

droshky

dross

drought

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“Dross.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dross. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dross

noun

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