white elephants

noun

plural of white elephant
as in castaways

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for white elephants
  1. castaways
  2. rubbish
  3. seconds
Noun
  • On Survivor, the strongest castaways are often eliminated early because they are perceived as threats.
    — Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Gilligan’s Island, American television sitcom about a group of castaways on a desert island and the chaos that ensues as their attempts at rescue are constantly thwarted.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of castaways
Noun
  • This comes at the expense of no movement in the wrist, but to be fair, having the lightsaber pointed in any other direction would look rubbish.
    — Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Only construction waste will be accepted at the landfill such as, brush and rubbish, concrete, brick, rock, wood, paper, plastics, cardboard and roofing shingles and tiles.
    — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Definition of rubbish
Noun
  • Add the shrimp to the pan and cook for approximately 30-45 seconds per side.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Her first touch in just 28 seconds led to a rebound goal, evening it at 2 in the 68th minute.
    — Phuoc Nguyen, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of seconds
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.

Browse Nearby Words

white elephant
white elephants
white-faced
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Cite this Entry

“White elephants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/white%20elephants. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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