Synonyms of dust

dust 1 of 2

noun

ˈdəst 

1

as in debris

discarded or useless material

the piles of dust that future archaeologists will sift through for insights into our civilization

Synonyms & Similar Words

• debris
• garbage
• trash
• rubbish
• junk
• rubble
• litter
• sewage
• truck
• chaff
• dross
• waste
• offal
• refuse
• deadwood
• effluvium
• scrap
• riffraff
• wreckage
• raffle
• wash
• detritus
• offscouring
• spilth
• lumber
• dreck
• ruins
• crud
• remains
• swill
• scrap heap
• dump
• straw
• flotsam
• slop
• trumpery
• discard
• jetsam
• nothing
• odds and ends
• cull
• reject
• two bits
• throwaway
• castoff
• hand-me-down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• treasure
• pearl
• plum
• prize
• catch
• treasure trove
• jewel
• gem
• trove
• find
• booty
• goody
• valuable
• salvage

2

as in soil

the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air

laid him out in the dust with one blow to the head

Synonyms & Similar Words

• soil
• land
• ground
• earth
• dirt
• continent
• island
• terra firma
• zone
• landmass
• mainland
• peninsula
• isthmus

dust

2 of 2

verb

as in to smoke

to defeat by a large margin

the inexperienced sprinter somehow dusted the field of veterans

Synonyms & Similar Words

• smoke
• overcome
• bury
• bomb
• whip
• skin
• throw
• cream
• upset
• wax
• blow away
• paste
• master
• smother
• flatten
• annihilate
• beat
• top
• rout
• thrash
• trim
• sweep
• overwhelm
• snow under
• take
• shellac
• clobber
• skunk
• destroy
• wallop
• beat the pants off
• eat alive
• whup
• conquer
• worst
• wipe the floor with
• exceed
• run circles around
• score
• trounce
• drub
• whop
• surpass
• lick
• succeed
• whomp
• cap
• best
• better
• tromp
• crush
• slaughter
• win (against)
• dispatch
• subdue
• finish
• hurdle
• prevail (over)
• knock over
• triumph (over)
• vanquish
• surmount
• overthrow
• subjugate
• ace (out)
• knock off
• outshine
• eclipse
• overpower
• flourish
• transcend
• overtop
• overbear
• outdo
• overmatch
• edge (out)
• outstrip
• sink
• excel
• break
• outdistance
• upend
• nose out
• pip
• outfight
• do in

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dust

Noun

The film ominously warns of an inevitable solar flare on the scale of the 1859 Carrington Event, one that, once unleashed, would reduce all communications networks, the foundations of so much of our modern world then and even more now, to dust. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

Scientists have long questioned what created the crater and led to the dust layer. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

While fans applauded the spectacle, Parrish dusted himself off and returned to mid-field. — Abby Disalvo, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026

There’s local cheese dusted with bee pollen from the island’s own hives. — Monica Mendal, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing dust

• bite the dust