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
But that pick should be something the Kings can leverage, along with the second-round selections in some trade flotsam down the road.
—
Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Feb. 2025
Jupiter’s location in the path of the Gulf Stream means there’s a constant flow of tropical water that improves the ocean’s clarity and visibility by carrying out any algae, flotsam, or runoff that accumulates.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Jan. 2025
These and a flotilla of Biden policy flotsam will persist into the Trump administration if Congress passes yet another CR.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
The strain of slop on Medium tends toward the banal, especially compared with the dadaist flotsam clogging Facebook.
—Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 28 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for flotsam
Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Feb. 2025
Jupiter’s location in the path of the Gulf Stream means there’s a constant flow of tropical water that improves the ocean’s clarity and visibility by carrying out any algae, flotsam, or runoff that accumulates.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Jan. 2025
These and a flotilla of Biden policy flotsam will persist into the Trump administration if Congress passes yet another CR.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
The strain of slop on Medium tends toward the banal, especially compared with the dadaist flotsam clogging Facebook.
—Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 28 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for flotsam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flotsam
Noun
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Those headed to Asheville can help with debris removal and rebuilding projects through All Hands and Hearts and the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, while Los Angeles visitors can volunteer with L.A. Works to repair homes, assemble food packages and organize clothes for survivors.—
Shoshi Parks,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
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Associated Press video showed the hospital’s caved-in roof surrounded by debris.—
Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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At least two of the dead were construction workers who were killed by falling rubble or debris, rescue worker Songwut Wangpon told reporters.—
David Rising,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2025
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So far, federal cleanup crews have cleared ash and rubble from more than 860 properties, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Investigators are continuing to search for wreckage using side-scanning sonar.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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Despite its initially violent impact, leading to ocean-churning tsunamis and globe-crossing flying wreckage, this impactor also left behind tremendous opportunity.—
Max Bennett,
Discover Magazine,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flotsam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flotsam. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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