as in debris
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the expanse of tree stumps represented the detritus of a vast forest that had been mercilessly clear-cut
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 detritus
Preparations have been underway for nearly a year — out of public view — as the development team Centennial Partners cleared furniture, fixtures and detritus from the 19-story building that ceased to function as a hospital in 2008.
—
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
There, Li’s laboratory technician Duncan Hauser stripped microbial detritus from the hornwort’s leaves.
—
Quanta Magazine,
10 June 2026
At its heart was the Gowanus Canal, an open sewer filled with medical waste, industrial chemicals, shipyard detritus and the occasional dead body.
—
Suzanne Van Atten,
AJC.com,
7 June 2026
In Literature and Painting Playset, 2025, a Cartman-like figure wearing a beret splashes daubs of paint on the screen while a female figure in pilgrim dress delivers a long, disjointed monologue patched together by Kokopeli from Quora posts, art history texts, and other online detritus.
—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for detritus
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
There, Li’s laboratory technician Duncan Hauser stripped microbial detritus from the hornwort’s leaves.
—
Quanta Magazine,
10 June 2026
At its heart was the Gowanus Canal, an open sewer filled with medical waste, industrial chemicals, shipyard detritus and the occasional dead body.
—
Suzanne Van Atten,
AJC.com,
7 June 2026
In Literature and Painting Playset, 2025, a Cartman-like figure wearing a beret splashes daubs of paint on the screen while a female figure in pilgrim dress delivers a long, disjointed monologue patched together by Kokopeli from Quora posts, art history texts, and other online detritus.
—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for detritus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detritus
Noun
-
Rodríguez denied those claims, saying some remote areas were difficult to reach because roads were blocked by landslides and debris, forcing authorities to rely on motorcycles, drones and satellite imagery.
-
Seconds later, a powerful explosion blasted through the doorway, shattering windows and sending vertical blinds and debris flying as firefighters quickly retreated from the building.
Noun
-
And, as the country and its people begin to piece together the full toll of the destruction amid the rubble, the notion of playing baseball seems absurd in the wake of such tragedy.
-
Residential buildings were badly damaged in the assault, leaving people trapped in multi-story apartment blocks and an entire family that was killed pulled from the rubble, while cars were seen burning on city streets.
Noun
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
Cite this Entry
“Detritus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detritus. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
