Thesaurus results for DETRITUS

detritus

noun

di-ˈtrī-təs

Definition of detritus

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

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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 In the next round of Count the Rice, the rice is mixed into a large box full of paper, styrofoam, and other detritus. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026 Based on carbon dating and artifacts, detritus and animal remains found at the site, Carr and others concluded the circle had likely been the foundation for a wooden ceremonial building dating back around 2,000 years. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 Rather, our solar system is a celestial shooting gallery, chock-full of flying projectiles—not just meteoroids but larger bodies, such as comets, asteroids, and other cosmic detritus—and Earth is right in the firing line. — Govert Schilling, Scientific American, 27 June 2026 Its outer space is filled with cosmic detritus, mean characters and cute critters. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for detritus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detritus

Noun

Chinese surveillance footage from the Tibetan side of the border shows a huge wall of mud and debris crashing over buildings and engulfing roads as people desperately try to flee the torrent.

— Diaa Hadid, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
An ice and rock avalanche from a high-altitude glacier may have triggered the flooding, with a large volume of debris entering the Lende Khola tributary, researchers have said in a preliminary assessment.

— Josh Feldman, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of debris

Noun

This seven-year-old girl pulled from the rubble after rescue workers heard her cries.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Other than that, he’s never seemed confident that the future will turn out all right, although he’s kept on working out his worries onscreen, forever hunting for flakes of hope in the rubble.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of rubble

Noun

Painstaking analysis of 319 tons of wreckage and thousands of pieces of evidence from a crime scene covering 845 square miles, along with thousands of interviews in 16 countries, eventually led investigators to two Libyan intelligence operatives.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026
Software, which took a beating earlier this year, has more recently staged a comeback as traders reevaluated their business outlooks, and combed through the wreckage for survivors.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of wreckage

Noun

The mountains, castles, and ruins of Ashina enable a unique traversal system.

— Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
The tornado struck Pomas, a village of about 1,000 people, on Monday and rescue teams were continuing their search through ruins on Tuesday, though no people were immediately reported missing.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of ruins

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detriments

detritus

de trop

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“Detritus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detritus. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of detritus

noun

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