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
Along with other conflicts, terrorist attacks, and the detritus of previous wars, bomb detection and disposal units are gaining far too much experience in dealing with such threats to life and limb as well as learning from the painful examples of others.
—
David Szondy
april 11, New Atlas, 11 Apr. 2026
Energy analysts sifting through the supply-chain detritus left by the US-Israel war with Iran have concluded that China will come out on top.
—Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg, 9 Apr. 2026
The story moves between the present, where Agathe and Vera go through the detritus of their childhood lives, and the past, as Agathe conjures memories from her childhood, bringing incidents to mind for inspection and some measure of self-recrimination.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Picnic detritus surrounds our little camp, and my two boys are wrestling not far away.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detritus
David Szondy
april 11, New Atlas, 11 Apr. 2026
Energy analysts sifting through the supply-chain detritus left by the US-Israel war with Iran have concluded that China will come out on top.
—Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg, 9 Apr. 2026
The story moves between the present, where Agathe and Vera go through the detritus of their childhood lives, and the past, as Agathe conjures memories from her childhood, bringing incidents to mind for inspection and some measure of self-recrimination.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Picnic detritus surrounds our little camp, and my two boys are wrestling not far away.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detritus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detritus
Noun
-
Use a drain catcher to stop hair and debris from accumulating.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Downed trees and debris at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, in July.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her body was only retrieved from the rubble hours later, rescue workers said.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The kids who were rescued from the rubble at Briarwood now are in their late teens and early 20s.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Photos from the wreckage show, among other pages from the emergency manual, instructions for a water landing lying loose at the crash site.—
James Glanz,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
One option is the wreckage of the second Death Star.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Other people are giving up on remote Nyatim and going home to ruins.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
There are ancient ruins hidden among the peaks of Colombia, and floating islands on Peru’s most sacred lake.—
Carla Vianna,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detritus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detritus. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
