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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Recent Examples of detritus
Especially in periods when camp rules allowed detainees to create artwork in their cells, the artists’ use of prison detritus and found objects made the artwork more than simply a depiction of what the men lacked, desired or imagined.
—
Alexandra Moore, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025
Its casual placement and realistic appearance, which the artist achieved by painstakingly detailing each can in acrylic paint, were meant to evoke detritus left behind during construction, and this is exactly how it was treated by a visiting elevator mechanic, who binned the crumpled containers.
—News Desk, Artforum, 9 Oct. 2024
The elegiac sweep involves the clearing away of detritus.
—Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
Opening on Valentine’s Day, Jacqueline Sullivan’s new show is all about cups: as cherished wedding gifts, antiques sitting in your grandmother’s curio cabinet, detritus at the garage sale, and collectibles reinvented by contemporary artists.
—Morgan Meier, Curbed, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detritus
Alexandra Moore, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025
Its casual placement and realistic appearance, which the artist achieved by painstakingly detailing each can in acrylic paint, were meant to evoke detritus left behind during construction, and this is exactly how it was treated by a visiting elevator mechanic, who binned the crumpled containers.
—News Desk, Artforum, 9 Oct. 2024
The elegiac sweep involves the clearing away of detritus.
—Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
Opening on Valentine’s Day, Jacqueline Sullivan’s new show is all about cups: as cherished wedding gifts, antiques sitting in your grandmother’s curio cabinet, detritus at the garage sale, and collectibles reinvented by contemporary artists.
—Morgan Meier, Curbed, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detritus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detritus
Noun
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Musk brushed off the rocket mishaps, replying to a photo of himself looking at debris from one of SpaceX’s multiple early rocket failures.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
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Within seconds the tornado struck, with debris crashing on to the studio's roof.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The accompanying film poster features Grande levitating with rubble scattered on the ground beneath her.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
12 Mar. 2025
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Some environmental features such as floating rubbles can be activated multiple times.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Emergency crews responded to the scene, and the roadway remains closed as authorities investigate and clear the wreckage.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
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Video of the scene showed the wreckage of the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza plane engulfed in flames and dark smoke.—
Tricia Escobedo,
CNN,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detritus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detritus. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
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