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
Crews divide debris into four categories and haul it to the correct disposal or recycling facility.
—
Kurt Snibbe, Orange County Register, 2 Feb. 2025
While videos and photos of the aftermath showed a long stretch of a Philadelphia neighborhood in flames and covered in debris.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 1 Feb. 2025
By Thursday morning, currents were pushing debris as far south as the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.
National Harbor and other neighborhoods temporarily closed the public access to their waterfronts.
—Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025
Options include traditional floss, floss picks, and water flossers, which use a focused stream of water and air to remove food debris, bacteria, and plaque, according to Fatima Khan, DMD, a dentist and co-founder of Riven Oral Care.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Phd, Health, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for debris 
Kurt Snibbe, Orange County Register, 2 Feb. 2025
While videos and photos of the aftermath showed a long stretch of a Philadelphia neighborhood in flames and covered in debris.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 1 Feb. 2025
By Thursday morning, currents were pushing debris as far south as the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.
National Harbor and other neighborhoods temporarily closed the public access to their waterfronts.
—Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025
Options include traditional floss, floss picks, and water flossers, which use a focused stream of water and air to remove food debris, bacteria, and plaque, according to Fatima Khan, DMD, a dentist and co-founder of Riven Oral Care.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Phd, Health, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for debris
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debris
Noun
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During another sale, an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle was placed in a garbage bag and sold in the middle of the afternoon in the Bronx.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2025
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In Dolton, residents can’t even be sure their garbage will be collected.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Many who have returned home since the ceasefire began have found only mounds of rubble. —Magdy reported from Cairo and Krauss from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.—
Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy,
TIME,
27 Jan. 2025
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Those returning to their homes in recent days have frequently encountered only piles of rubble that remain.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Allergies and Asthma Allergies and allergic asthma symptoms occur when the immune system overreacts to environmental triggers, such as pollen, dust, or pet dander.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
30 Jan. 2025
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In the months that followed, first responders and residents were exposed to a hazardous mix of asbestos, silica dust, heavy metals and other dangerous substances.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Today’s updates: Crews pull more wreckage from crash.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA TODAY,
4 Feb. 2025
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During Monday's operation, several work stoppages were ordered to recover multiple sets of remains amid the wreckage, Pera said.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Environmental groups have urged Levine Cava to abandon the incinerator plan in favor of waste reduction, but the mayor had previously said other options endangered the county trash system’s ability to keep up with planned growth.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
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The people that live in the shadows of New York’s 27 landfills desperately need reform to alleviate the high volume of trash flowing into their communities.—
Ryan Castalia,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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View 6 Images Unlike cats, our vision is pretty rubbish in very low light conditions.—
Paul Ridden,
New Atlas,
17 Jan. 2025
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On the evening of January 14, a woman was arrested after allegedly setting multiple piles of rubbish and trash on fire, Jim McDonnell, chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, said at a news conference last week.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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One of the other major ratings agencies, Moody’s, did not change its assessment of the city after the budget passed, keeping its rating at Baa3+, one notch above junk.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2025
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Digital junk piles up faster than clutter in real life.—
Kim Komando,
Fox News,
13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Belcher took off with Stout, who was waiting in his truck, then led police on a chase.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2025
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Andre Howard attempted to reverse his truck, using the donut shop as a shield to stop flying debris.—
Stephanie Ramos,
ABC News,
4 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near debris
Cite this Entry
“Debris.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debris. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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