Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for white elephant
Noun
-
Some were even arguing that the calculations of a plastic item’s impact should begin with oil and gas extraction, meaning the harm done by a throwaway fork, for example, would include not just its manufacture and disposal but the drilling and petrochemical processing that created the plastic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026 -
General catastrophizing Some people are naturally prone to anxiety and overthinking everything—like a work typo, or a throwaway joke that now feels catastrophic.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
An asterisk indicates the castaway was eliminated or medically evacuated and no longer competing.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Other castaways include Season 1’s Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Season 2’s Colby Donaldson, and Cirie Fields, competing for the fifth time.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Wildcats began applying more defensive pressure in the second quarter, forcing two turnovers against UConn through the first 90 seconds after the Huskies gave up two in the entire opening quarter.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 35 points on 13-of-17 shooting, 12 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out in the final seconds.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The study confirmed direct dumping by boats, with evidence of bags full of rubbish thrown overboard.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Researchers found evidence of bags full of rubbish being thrown overboard, identifiable by pile-up patterns on the seabed.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Three makeshift camps have been closed as a result of people finding housing, including a more permanent Fountain Square camp that garnered media coverage after residents called attention to growing piles of trash and reports of animal abuse.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
6 Mar. 2026
-
On Monday, the Lincoln Club announced a ballot initiative to repeal the trash tax and deliver real relief.—
Bradley Schnell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Textile waste is a huge and burgeoning problem, with Americans throwing away up to 17 million tons of clothing each year.—
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
These roles are the only direct hires made by the council, overseeing critical functions like the day-to-day operations of the city and investigations into potential fraud and waste.—
Everton Bailey Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Eco effort Few & Far Luvhondo operates on solar power and is 100% zero waste, in part thanks to an army of black soldier flies that turn food scraps into fertilizer.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Kick-off was barely an hour away, an FA Cup fifth-round glamour tie against Chelsea that would leave a huge global TV audience enthralled, but one player after another did the rounds, signing every shirt, match programme, ball or scrap of paper that was eagerly thrust in front of them.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“White elephant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/white%20elephant. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
