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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flotsam
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, 19 Sep. 2025
On the bright side, flotsam from shipwrecks could bring pleasant surprises, such as unexpected treasure – a turning point in many ancient Greek stories.
—Marie-Claire Beaulieu, The Conversation, 28 July 2025
The Owl sensor is designed to detect, track and characterize objects in orbit — including satellites, debris and other space flotsam — from long distances to support SDA initiatives.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 25 July 2025
Your business isn’t a piece of flotsam driven by random forces.
—Meredith Moore, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flotsam
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
On the bright side, flotsam from shipwrecks could bring pleasant surprises, such as unexpected treasure – a turning point in many ancient Greek stories.
—Marie-Claire Beaulieu, The Conversation, 28 July 2025
The Owl sensor is designed to detect, track and characterize objects in orbit — including satellites, debris and other space flotsam — from long distances to support SDA initiatives.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 25 July 2025
Your business isn’t a piece of flotsam driven by random forces.
—Meredith Moore, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flotsam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flotsam
Noun
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Gas and dust fall into a rotating disk around the black hole, and as the debris spirals more rapidly, it becomes superheated, releasing intense radiation.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Israel wiped out entire cities with nothing left but an abundance of rubble mixed with thousands of corpses stuck underneath.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Although his focus is on his employees and their families at this time, seeing 20 years of his business and life in rubble was devastating — not only for Garber but for those who depend on Grade A Auto Parts.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But while the school still stood relatively unscathed on its steel pilings more than 20 feet above the muck and wreckage, there were other problems inside.—
Emily Schwing,
NPR,
10 Nov. 2025
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The ashes have settled over the charred Louisville neighborhood where nine people remain missing and families cling to hope as investigators comb through the wreckage of Tuesday’s fatal UPS cargo plane crash.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Chreim, 74, finds the names of his grandmother and grandfather among the broken pieces of marble before heading to the ruins of his home.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
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Mogetta said that field work in 2026 and 2027 will reveal more of the ruins.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flotsam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flotsam. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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