deadwood

noun

ˈded-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce deadwood (audio)
Definition of deadwoodnext
as in debris
discarded or useless material much of the material in the file cabinets is just deadwood

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 deadwood The pyre was probably built by collecting and assembling at least 30 kilograms of deadwood and grass, which would have required considerable community effort. — ArsTechnica, 5 Jan. 2026 Trying to talk sense into him would be useless, however, so a wounded Leroy hands off the dagger to Will and gives him instructions on where to bury it, reasoning that Will and his friends will be able to get to the deadwood without the military spotting them. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025 With Rich's ghostly helping hand, Will, Lilly, Ronnie, and Marge are able to plant the dagger in the deadwood's roots, re-lock the cage, and send It back into one of its 27-year hibernation periods. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 15 Dec. 2025 The lawsuit states that the branch fell from a tree that was clearly unhealthy, decayed and had deadwood. — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deadwood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadwood
  1. debris
  2. garbage
  3. rubbish
  4. trash
  5. junk
  6. dust
Noun
  • Hot rubber, tire debris, or other parts can also land on dry vegetation and ignite it.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The infamous explosion covered Pompeii and Herculaneum in volcanic debris, immortalizing the final moments of the ancient Roman cities and some of their unfortunate inhabitants in stunning detail.
    — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of debris
Noun
  • The government still has not come up with a solution to the mountainous piles of rotting garbage that accumulate on the streets for months.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
  • One of the nurses tried to cover up the error by fishing the empty bottle of the muscle relaxant out of the garbage and taking it home.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of garbage
Noun
  • This comes at the expense of no movement in the wrist, but to be fair, having the lightsaber pointed in any other direction would look rubbish.
    — Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Only construction waste will be accepted at the landfill such as, brush and rubbish, concrete, brick, rock, wood, paper, plastics, cardboard and roofing shingles and tiles.
    — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Definition of rubbish
Noun
  • To paraphrase Tolstoy, all slop is alike, but every piece of trash is trashy in its own oddball way.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Four months later, he was seen last weekend walking dogs, taking walks, enjoying a cup of coffee in a garage, and even stopping to sift through neighborhood trash items on the side of the street.
    — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of trash
Noun
  • The Workshop will have a space to customize your own junk journal.
    — Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Utilities Another common sight in the kitchen is a junk or utility drawer (or two).
    — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of junk
Noun
  • The National Weather Service called for blowing dust early Friday evening and a 20% chance of rain on Sunday for nearby Gerlach, Nevada, a community of 58 people about 100 miles north of Reno.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 5 Sep. 2026
  • During the transformation the gases escape, dragging dust and ice particles off the surface with them.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of dust

Browse Nearby Words

deadweights
deadwood
deafening
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deadwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadwood. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deadwood

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deadwood

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