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

Residents and advocates warn that dust could worsen pollution in a neighborhood already burdened by industry. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Crew members scurry over to the actors with a gardening-type tool, opening the nozzle and blowing a cloud of yellow and red dust onto us. — Kyle MacLachlan, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026

Verb

Before releasing the ferrets, scientists dust prairie dog burrows with insecticide and scatter food pellets laced with fipronil, the same chemical used in flea control among pets. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026

A week later Eliza and I made it out again after nap time, at dusk, to sample a flaky bun from Seven Stars Bakery with its layers laminated like a croissant and dusted with cinnamon sugar. — Sean Carlson, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing dust

• bite the dust