dross

noun

ˈdräs

ˈdrȯs

Synonyms of dross

metallurgy : the scum or unwanted material that forms on the surface of molten metal

: waste or foreign matter : impurity

: something that is base (see base entry 3 sense 1), trivial, or inferior

There is quite a lot of dross on TV these days.

a talent for turning literary dross into gold

drossy

ˈdrä-sē

ˈdrȯ-

adjective

Did you know?

Dross has been a part of the English language since Anglo-Saxon times. It comes from the Old English word drōs, meaning "dregs," those solid materials that fall to the bottom of a container full of a liquid such as coffee or wine. While dross today is used to refer to anything of low value or quality, its earliest use is technical: dross is a metallurgy term referring to solid scum that forms on the surface of a metal when it is molten or melting—remove the dross to improve the metal. The metallurgical sense of the word is often hinted at in its general use, with dross set in contrast to gold, as when 19th century British poet Christina Rossetti wrote "Besides, those days were golden days, / Whilst these are days of dross."

Examples of dross in a Sentence

There is quite a lot of dross on TV these days. His editor has a talent for turning literary dross into gold.

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Those, plus the endless Chinese dross, truly burned investors. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025 After the dross of Bruno Lage, and the chaos of Lopetegui, Gary O'Neil came in and created unity. —Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025