rubbish

noun

ˈrə-bish How to pronounce rubbish (audio)
Definition of rubbishnext
1
as in garbage
discarded or useless material it's illegal to throw rubbish out of your car on the highway

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in junk
that which is of low quality or worth regarded most romance novels as the lowest form of literary rubbish

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense you're obviously no economist because what you're saying is absolute rubbish

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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 rubbish Historically, this ash is dumped in piles, mixed in cement, or simply thrown away as industrial rubbish. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 May 2026 Trash pickup Chris Barnett, Orion Township supervisor, said residents of his community will be allowed to place more bagged trash outside at their next Waste Management pickup day to help handle overflow rubbish from paper plates, etc. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 May 2026 From the Japanese point of view, leaving rubbish piled up in a stadium would be a bother to others. — Stephen Wade, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026 Local villages are actively monitoring the oceans and reefs in their environment, and backlash to a recent plan from a billionaire Australian to build a giant plant to incinerate rubbish in Fiji was loud and well organized, says Singh. — Michelle Duff, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rubbish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbish
  1. garbage
  2. junk
  3. nonsense
  4. debris
  5. cheese
  6. nuts
  7. trash
  8. blah
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
  • 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
  • Statham, who turned 59 this summer and is still in incredible shape, performs on his usual high-octane, no-time-for-nonsense level.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The nonsense began last year as a stunt tied to a cryptocurrency group, but more recently has been linked to groups protesting league policies.
    — Greg Cote August 23, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of nonsense
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
  • Burnt on cheese and sauce still stained a bit, even with a dark charcoal gray glaze, but that was more of an aesthetic issue than anything affecting performance.
    — Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
  • On weekdays, a steady stream of regulars stop in the light and bright space for their morning coffee and croissant or to sit for a bit with a ham and cheese sandwich and one of the shop’s seasonal specialty drinks.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheese
Noun
  • White suggests nuts, popcorn, bite-size desserts, cheese boards, or, of course, nostalgic candy.
    — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026
  • This is an uncomplicated yarn about a man prying open his heart and nudging other hard nuts to do the same.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of nuts
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
  • There's been some good, but, generally, it's just been sort of blah.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That’s where all the problems come from—the shrinkage, the color, blah, blah, blah.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of blah

Browse Nearby Words

rubbing the wrong way
rubbish
rubbishy
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on rubbish

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rubbish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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