as in debris
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the dispirited family picked through the flotsam of their possessions after the hurricane, looking for anything that could be salvaged
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 flotsam
The role will give him access to vast amounts of highly sensitive intelligence, as well as the daily flotsam of rumor, speculation and false accusations that F.B.I. agents receive from informants and the public.
—
Devlin Barrett, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
The Lyles family, meanwhile, remained scattered, rendered flotsam of the American slave system.
—Robert Colby, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
But that pick should be something the Kings can leverage, along with the second-round selections in some trade flotsam down the road.
—Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Feb. 2025
Jupiter’s location in the path of the Gulf Stream means there’s a constant flow of tropical water that improves the ocean’s clarity and visibility by carrying out any algae, flotsam, or runoff that accumulates.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flotsam
Devlin Barrett, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
The Lyles family, meanwhile, remained scattered, rendered flotsam of the American slave system.
—Robert Colby, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
But that pick should be something the Kings can leverage, along with the second-round selections in some trade flotsam down the road.
—Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Feb. 2025
Jupiter’s location in the path of the Gulf Stream means there’s a constant flow of tropical water that improves the ocean’s clarity and visibility by carrying out any algae, flotsam, or runoff that accumulates.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flotsam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flotsam
Noun
-
Species: The most valuable trees are hardy, durable, highly adaptable and won’t drop debris like nuts or pods everywhere.—
LEW SICHELMAN,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2025
-
On both occasions, the rocket's upper stage shut down its engines prematurely and the vehicle lost control, breaking apart in the upper atmosphere and spreading debris near the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
At the charity kitchen set up atop piles of rubble in Beit Lahia, dozens of Palestinians stood in a crowded line, pressing against one another, holding empty pots and plastic containers high in the air in hopes of receiving vegetable soup.—
MOHAMMAD JAHJOUH,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
-
People buried under rubble after Israel targets Hamas leader in hospital strike 00:58 3.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
Crews and investigators spent days recovering the wreckage.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
8 May 2025
-
The remains were found among the wreckage of the Emanuel Point II, a Spanish ship that sank in September 1559 near what is now Pensacola, Florida.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flotsam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flotsam. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share