dust 1 of 2

noun

ˈdəst How to pronounce dust (audio)
Definition of dustnext
1
as in debris
discarded or useless material the piles of dust that future archaeologists will sift through for insights into our civilization

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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dust

2 of 2

verb

as in to smoke
to defeat by a large margin the inexperienced sprinter somehow dusted the field of veterans

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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 dust
Noun
Unlike traditional construction equipment, the machine must operate in an environment covered with abrasive dust, exposed to extreme temperature swings, and separated from Earth by communication delays. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026 The sky was a little hazy from the Saharan dust plume that had come in over the Atlantic Ocean and settled over the Gulf Coast. — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2026
Verb
Or any other details in this first drive report—the hybrid Seltos is still undergoing its EPA certification, and Kia isn’t prepared to talk power, torque, or efficiency until that’s done and dusted. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026 Rather than a pastry, biscuit, or crumb topping, the fruit gets topped with bread cubes that have been drizzled in butter and dusted in sugar. — Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dust
  1. debris
  2. soil
  3. smoke
  4. garbage
  5. land
  6. bury
  7. trash
  8. ground
Noun
  • At these temperatures, the tiles must not melt or drop debris into the hot fuel plasma.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026
  • The physical debris was scattered over a massive area of roughly 800 square miles.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
Definition of debris
Noun
  • Periwinkle prefers a temperate climate and needs a soil with a good amount of compost.
    — Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Although each vineyard has its own unique soils, exposures, and water availability, the sibling regions are simply two different appellations cultivating the same grape.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of soil
Verb
  • Rafaela, who hit a go-head homer in Friday night’s 9-4 win, smoked his first homer off Yamamoto in the first inning for a 1-0 lead and followed it up in the third to tie the score after the Red Sox had fallen behind 2-1.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Holt-Lunstad led a meta-analysis of 148 studies tracking millions of people over years and often decades, finding that chronic loneliness and isolation carry a mortality risk comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of smoke
Noun
  • Unlike Lake Michigan, debris and garbage settle along the riverbed and near the banks, forcing divers to search through sediment and obstacles while currents continue to move beneath the surface.
    — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Residents are encouraged to use bear-resistant containers with lids latched, store garbage in a garage or shed until collection day, and put cans at the curb the morning of pickup rather than the night before.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of garbage
Noun
  • The modest park sits on less than one acre of land off Parkwood Avenue and includes a playground, a picnic shelter and green space.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Ceuta and ‌Melilla, another Spanish autonomous city in northern Morocco, have the European Union’s only land borders with Africa.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of land
Verb
  • In even-year elections, opponents say, candidates in local races are buried at the bottom of a crowded ballot.
    — Tess Riski July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Using software that scans DNA for the genetic signatures of ancient bacteria and viruses, the team analyzed samples from people buried at the Camarones 9 archaeological site.
    — Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 30 July 2026
Definition of bury
Noun
  • Or the convention center in Christchurch that became carbon zero because one young staffer started auditing the trash bins.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • In The Athletic’s anonymous annual player poll, he has been voted the NFL’s biggest trash talker and most annoying player.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of trash
Noun
  • That’s when the north grounds of President's Park were thronged with booths, and attending crowds watched horse racing and cockfighting, according to the White House Historical Association.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Austin Riley drove in the first run of the night with a ground-rule double.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of ground

Phrases Containing dust

Browse Nearby Words

dusky
dust
dustbin
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Cite this Entry

“Dust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dust. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dust

Nglish: Translation of dust for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dust

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