1
as in garbage
discarded or useless material
the unsightly debris left after mining operations had ceased
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rubble
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the demolition workers cleared away all of the debris from the demolished building
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of debris
Flooding reveals 100-million-year-old footprints A volunteer found the dinosaur tracks while removing debris in central Texas.
—
Jade Walker, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2025
Start with a thorough vacuuming using a clean upholstery attachment to remove dust, hair, and other debris from the mattress surface.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2025
Heavy machinery was used for the fire to remove debris.
—Chevall Pryce, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2025
The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the Earth travelling through the debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debris
Jade Walker, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2025
Start with a thorough vacuuming using a clean upholstery attachment to remove dust, hair, and other debris from the mattress surface.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2025
Heavy machinery was used for the fire to remove debris.
—Chevall Pryce, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2025
The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the Earth travelling through the debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debris
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debris
Noun
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New York City has already begun working with neighborhood groups and activating organizations who sign up to be notified before a big rain to clean debris like falling leaves and garbage from the sewer drains in their community.—
Amy Chester,
New York Daily News,
6 Aug. 2025
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Check garbage collection schedules in Ohio Ohio's bigger cities won't see garbage trucks on Labor Day.—
Mariyam Muhammad,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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File photo: Ukrainian rescue workers survey the rubble of a residential building hit during a Russian overnight drone and missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine on June 23, 2025.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
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So there is no way to look at the rubble in Gaza and the death toll estimates and offer a mathematical proof that Israel is failing to exercise adequate restraint.—
Ross Douthat,
Mercury News,
31 July 2025
Noun
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The Hubble observations show that 3I/ATLAS' nucleus is shrouded by a coma made from small particles of dust that have been lifted off the interstellar comet's surface.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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This unit is used to measure the fine particulate matter in the air, such as smoke, dust, soot or dirt.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Creating the aftermath of Maginot’s wreckage in Prodigy City was another feat.—
Daron James,
IndieWire,
13 Aug. 2025
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Two days later, the Polar Prince arrived at the vicinity of the Titanic wreckage in the North Atlantic and the submersible was launched.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The property was littered with garbage during visits this week, with food waste piled around trash bins rotting in the heat.—
Michael Cuglietta,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Aug. 2025
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Help came in the form of a shy, 15-year-old named Justin Vannelli who, on the third day of her entombment, was picking up trash along the interstate.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The new law also applies to vehicles used to transport garbage, rubbish, trash or debris.—
Mary Murphy,
Twin Cities,
30 July 2025
-
When the house was done being used, ancient people cut a hole through the floor and dug the pit, then filled it with domestic rubbish.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2025
Noun
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Very quickly, Gilman became a matchmaker of necessities, contacting people in construction, plumbing, junk removal and more.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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After that, Seattle sent the ordinance to the junk yard.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The potential witness told investigators that Castillo came to her door with the grapes and that Geter-Pataky was in a pick-up truck and waved to her.—
Dave Altimari,
Hartford Courant,
16 Aug. 2025
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As the truck was coming to a stop, a passenger in the front seat got out and ran from the vehicle, which stopped a short distance later.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debris.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debris. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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