as in debris
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the dispirited family picked through the flotsam of their possessions after the hurricane, looking for anything that could be salvaged
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flotsam
On the other, random pieces of informational flotsam were elevated to the status of genuine facts only once they were vetted by credentialled people with special access to the truth.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 28 May 2025
Saleem’s is a life worth thinking about, more than flotsam tossed by history.
—Emily Temple
may 27, Literary Hub, 27 May 2025
Jupiter’s location in the path of the Gulf Stream means there’s a constant flow of tropical water that improves the ocean’s clarity and visibility by carrying out any algae, flotsam, or runoff that accumulates.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 20 May 2025
That Jia could make anything out of that flotsam and jetsam is astonishing, but his ability to not only recreate those time frames but craft all of it into a woozy, free-floating memory piece is miraculous.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flotsam
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 28 May 2025
Saleem’s is a life worth thinking about, more than flotsam tossed by history.
—Emily Temple
may 27, Literary Hub, 27 May 2025
Jupiter’s location in the path of the Gulf Stream means there’s a constant flow of tropical water that improves the ocean’s clarity and visibility by carrying out any algae, flotsam, or runoff that accumulates.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 20 May 2025
That Jia could make anything out of that flotsam and jetsam is astonishing, but his ability to not only recreate those time frames but craft all of it into a woozy, free-floating memory piece is miraculous.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flotsam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flotsam
Noun
-
Police and military personnel inspect a property damaged by debris from a Russian drone shot down in eastern Poland earlier this month.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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The control panel even displays different lights (blue, pink, and red) to indicate the debris levels on the floor.—
Lily Gray,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Every window was blown out, and rubble littered the ground.—
Ken Harbaugh,
The Atlantic,
15 Sep. 2025
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Images from the incident show firefighters on the scene searching through the rubble of the building following the explosion.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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What To Know Warsaw said that Russian drones violated Polish airspace 19 times on the night of September 9 and 10, with data showing the wreckage of Russian drones across the country.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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Footage of the aftermath of the collision posted on social media shows a large fire and pillars of dark smoke emanating from the wreckage.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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With its quiet chapels, ancient ruins, vineyards, and the island’s restaurant La Tonnelle, Saint-Honorat is a place where visitors are welcome, but peace is preserved.—
Jeryl Brunner,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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That includes stepping back in time to see ruins in Greece, Italy, and Egypt, as well as wildlife and nature-based trips, such as the Galapagos Islands.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flotsam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flotsam. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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