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
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Recent Examples of debris
Norzagaray is the Wildcoast senior marine debris manager and lives in Tijuana.
—
Serge Dedina,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 July 2026
While the surrounding concrete structure collapsed around him, his cabin held ground, shielding him from crushing debris and creating a vital pocket of air.
—
ABC News,
2 July 2026
As rescue teams continue working through the debris in Kyiv, officials warn that the final casualty figures may still rise.
—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
2 July 2026
Secure windows and doors Securing your windows and doors helps block debris from shattering the glass.
—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for debris
Serge Dedina,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 July 2026
While the surrounding concrete structure collapsed around him, his cabin held ground, shielding him from crushing debris and creating a vital pocket of air.
—
ABC News,
2 July 2026
As rescue teams continue working through the debris in Kyiv, officials warn that the final casualty figures may still rise.
—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
2 July 2026
Secure windows and doors Securing your windows and doors helps block debris from shattering the glass.
—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for debris
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debris
Noun
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Decomposing food can release hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas synonymous with landfills and garbage.
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Epidemics, worsened by the unsanitary conditions caused by the mountains of garbage the government has stopped collecting, combine with the shortage of medicines and the dire state of medical facilities.
Noun
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Some held torches to light the way as floodlights appeared to illuminate the rubble against the darkness of night.
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Rescuers have fanned out across La Guaira, where the worst destruction occurred, and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent days pulling survivors and victims from the rubble.
Noun
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Authorities confirmed the match after obtaining his DNA from trash.
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Sugary drinks, greasy grill residue, dropped crumbs and overflowing trash are all fair game.
Noun
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Reaching the wreckage proved difficult as emergency workers, backed by paramilitary forces, climbed down a steep mountainside to the ravine up to 25 meters (80 feet) deep.
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According to the operator, the pilot used a small clipboard to record load notes and fuel calculations, but that clipboard was not found in the wreckage, investigators said.
Noun
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The Aspiron Canister Vacuum is designed with a powerful brushless motor, three-stage filtration system, and large dust cup that keeps shoppers from having to constantly empty it.
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The dust has not quite settled on one of this season’s blockbuster trades during NBA free agency.
Noun
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As a reminder, the Mission San Juan Capistrano tour ends at the ruins of what’s now called the Great Stone Church, which collapsed in an 1812 earthquake that killed 40 Acjachemen worshippers.
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The engineer flew in from Tampa to try and find her mother, sister, brother-in-law and nephew in the ruins of their nine-story apartment building, sleeping on the ground since arriving two nights ago.
Noun
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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.
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So where does the rubbish come from?
Noun
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Gonzales ran with a platform decisively to the left, supporting Medicare-for-all, raising the minimum wage and cracking down on junk fees.
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Tire pressure sensors are vital to a vehicle’s health, especially when driving on pothole and junk-laden Atlanta streets.
Cite this Entry
“Debris.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debris. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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