as in debris
discarded or useless material
much of the material in the file cabinets is just deadwood
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deadwood
Bit by bit, deadwood is decomposed, feeding new life along the way.
—
Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Forest fires clear away deadwood to promote new growth; decisive defeat in war creates space for societal transformations.
—Todd Pittinsky, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2024
The genus is known to feed on deadwood, dead leaves, leaf litter or lichens, according to Hoare.
—Rina Diane Caballar, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2023
Only the White has the right balance of water, sediment, sandbars with backwaters, sheltering cottonwood forests and pool-forming deadwood to sustain themselves without hatchery help.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 30 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for deadwood
Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Forest fires clear away deadwood to promote new growth; decisive defeat in war creates space for societal transformations.
—Todd Pittinsky, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2024
The genus is known to feed on deadwood, dead leaves, leaf litter or lichens, according to Hoare.
—Rina Diane Caballar, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2023
Only the White has the right balance of water, sediment, sandbars with backwaters, sheltering cottonwood forests and pool-forming deadwood to sustain themselves without hatchery help.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 30 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for deadwood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadwood
Noun
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This could include dead plants, piles of leaves, stones, or other debris.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
21 July 2025
-
The weather service says flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter.—
David Ferrara,
The Enquirer,
21 July 2025
Noun
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The Bureau of Rodent Control has been increasing collaboration with the Bureau of Sanitation to replace faulty garbage carts, which rats can exploit to obtain more food.—
William Tong,
Chicago Tribune,
12 July 2025
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Another item that is often forgotten is garbage bags for collecting waste along the way, especially when passing through remote areas without public bins.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Noun
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North Korea has responded to previous balloon campaigns with fiery rhetoric and other shows of anger, and last year the country launched its own balloons across the border, dumping rubbish on various South Korean sites, including the presidential compound.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
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They were were found beneath a pile of rubbish heaped just inside her front door, according to a police report released Wednesday.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2025
Noun
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According to the probable cause affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE in January 2023, authorities identified him after matching DNA on trash taken from Bryan's parents' home to that of the sheath of the knife used in the stabbings that was left at the crime scene.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
24 July 2025
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An Afghan National Army pickup truck passes parked U.S. armored military vehicles, as smoke rises from a fire in a trash burn pit at Forward Operating Base Caferetta Nawzad, Helmand province south of Kabul, Afghanistan,...—
Sophie Clark,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Now available at Walmart in five craveable flavors, each can delivers the nostalgic taste of your favorite fizzy drink, without any of the junk.—
Adam Mills,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 July 2025
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Clear your yard of any brush, rocks, junk, firewood, and pet food that might attract rodents.—
Rob Williams,
EverydayHealth.com,
15 July 2025
Noun
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That’s because adult birds need water for drinking and bathing (though some birds do take dust baths!).—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
15 July 2025
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The risk of ingesting lead is only heightened by their habit of putting their hands in their mouths and crawling on the floor, where lead dust can accumulate.—
Alison Dirr,
jsonline.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deadwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadwood. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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