Thesaurus results for FLOTSAM

flotsam

noun

ˈflät-səm

Definition of flotsam

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

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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 flotsam Here in the famous Festival Theatre, the sprite Ariel, played in splendidly sprightly fashion by Marissa Orjalo, opens up the top of a piano, a piece of island flotsam and Prospero, in the form of the veteran actor Geraint Wyn Davies, shoves his coat inside, throws up his hands and closes the lid. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026 The writer thinks that the person seducing the main character is just some flotsam, hardly worth a second look. — Literary Hub, 26 June 2026 Crews remain onsite 24/7, monitoring the dam's condition and clearing flotsam from its gates. — CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026 There’s a lot of trivia and bits and bobs of flotsam that get in there. — Nick Hilden, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flotsam

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flotsam

Noun

The sheriff’s office released photos of the black Honda CR-V deep inside the store with debris surrounding the vehicle.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
The team looked through such coronagraph data for seven distant stars, each surrounded by debris disks where planet formation may be happening.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of debris

Noun

The new stadium has a capacity of just over 60,000, about 12,000 less than the old facility which now lies in rubble across the street.

— CBS News, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
A number of people are thought to still be missing beneath the rubble, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

— Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of rubble

Noun

Later, the vehicle was removed and a gaping hole was visible in the Metro bus’ side, with wreckage strewn around the scene.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Video showed civil defense crews surveying the wreckage and using bulldozers to dig people out, including children.

— CBS News, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of wreckage

Noun

The Strip had been largely obliterated in the war between Hamas and Israel, and most of its two million inhabitants were living in tents or in the ruins; images of human misery had flooded screens around the world.

— Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Three firefighters stand atop a pile of twisted steel and debris, raising an American flag above the ruins of the World Trade Center.

— Thomas E. Franklin, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruins

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flotillas

flotsam

flounce

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“Flotsam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flotsam. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of flotsam

noun

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