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
The strain of slop on Medium tends toward the banal, especially compared with the dadaist flotsam clogging Facebook.
—
Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 28 Oct. 2024
Federal officials and experts are warning that the winds and floodwaters from Helene that wrecked the Southeast carry unscrupulous fraudsters amid the flotsam.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024
The flotsam of the internet is childish, ridiculous and, consequently, easy to underestimate.
—Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 10 July 2024
Full of the flotsam and jetsam of everyday affairs.
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 1 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for flotsam
Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 28 Oct. 2024
Federal officials and experts are warning that the winds and floodwaters from Helene that wrecked the Southeast carry unscrupulous fraudsters amid the flotsam.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024
The flotsam of the internet is childish, ridiculous and, consequently, easy to underestimate.
—Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 10 July 2024
Full of the flotsam and jetsam of everyday affairs.
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 1 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for flotsam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flotsam
Noun
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Even if the garage door is open, don't start a vehicle if the garage is attached to a home. Furnace and fireplaces: Keep fireplaces clean and in good condition, make sure no debris is blocking the vents or chimney.—
Sara Moniuszko,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2025
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Residents who live near local landfills say the wildfire debris should be sent to hazardous waste landfills instead.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The collection of works for this show, featuring a number of new pieces, mixes glass, earth, stone, lace and bronze elements, along with some bronze cast and borosilicate glass forms that Akashi recovered from the rubble of her studio.—
The Editors,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
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Gulf Arab states would also be expected to finance much of Gaza's redevelopment as rubble is cleared.—
Aya Batrawy,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Modern international law emerged from the wreckage of world wars.—
Gyunduz Mamedov,
TIME,
24 Feb. 2025
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The event also brought attendees back to its storied spot along the West Coast (coincidentally, the location is changing next year) — just a few miles south of the wreckage left by last month’s devastating wildfires in the Pacific Palisades.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flotsam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flotsam. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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