dust 1 of 2

noun

ˈdəst How to pronounce dust (audio)
Definition of dustnext
1
as in debris
discarded or useless material the piles of dust that future archaeologists will sift through for insights into our civilization

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in soil
the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air laid him out in the dust with one blow to the head

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dust

2 of 2

verb

as in to smoke
to defeat by a large margin the inexperienced sprinter somehow dusted the field of veterans

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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 dust
Noun
The group takes historic properties and brushes off the dust to reveal their splendor. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 The Nobel committee said IceCube would take neutrino astronomy to a new level, providing information about cosmic phenomena that are hidden behind dust clouds and distant space objects such as black holes. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
Before releasing the ferrets, scientists dust prairie dog burrows with insecticide and scatter food pellets laced with fipronil, the same chemical used in flea control among pets. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026 A week later Eliza and I made it out again after nap time, at dusk, to sample a flaky bun from Seven Stars Bakery with its layers laminated like a croissant and dusted with cinnamon sugar. — Sean Carlson, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dust
  1. debris
  2. soil
  3. smoke
  4. garbage
  5. land
  6. overcome
  7. trash
  8. ground
Noun
  • Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle pledged another $8 million to continue clearing debris from south suburban areas affected by the August storms.
    — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The seemingly never-ending saga in the 600 block of Martel Avenue, just south of Melrose Avenue, came to a head in April 2024, when city crews removed seven tons of trash and debris that attracted rodents and a host of insects.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of debris
Noun
  • In Richard’s hands, Creole culture is rooted and migrant, soil and air.
    — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The footpad cannot extract energy from chemically inert surfaces such as plastic, glass, soil, or organic tissue, prompting the team to add a small onboard supercapacitor to buffer power across dead zones.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of soil
Verb
  • Exposure to cigarette smoke increases the risk of SIDS, so no one should smoke or vape around the baby or in the home or car.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Rocky sat up on the bed smoking his pipe and reading about a silk mill on the River Derwent.
    — Tom Drury, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of smoke
Noun
  • If the brain’s plumbing doesn’t work properly, research shows, cellular garbage accumulates, and a cleaner brain may be a healthier one.
    — Richard Sima, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026
  • After the ad went viral on social media, Republican candidate for state school superintendent Sonja Shaw called it creepy, weird garbage.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of garbage
Noun
  • Soon, crew who had been traveling on the plane stepped in to stabilize it, issuing a mayday call and seeking a place to land.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Then, the film cuts to show our protagonist’s hand hovering in front of a slide projector displaying a plot of cheap land in South Carolina where nuclear weapons were developed during the Cold War.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of land
Verb
  • These sessions have helped Ellis develop a better understanding of the challenges others have overcome.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The three-time AL MVP played just seven games after May 31 because of a fractured rib and the leg injury, an absence the team couldn't overcome.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of overcome
Noun
  • Twisted Teens are far from rubbish, but that isn't stopping them from playing in the trash for their latest music video.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Broken or ruptured baits are ineffective and should be disposed of by using gloves to place the bait in a bag and then into a regular trash bin.
    — Eva Flowe October 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of trash
Noun
  • Pollinators and birds have found a welcoming haven here, is a spot that was previously barren, rocky ground.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • By mid-2013, mass disillusionment with the Brotherhood provided fertile ground for a military comeback.
    — Abdelrahman ElGendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of ground

Phrases Containing dust

Browse Nearby Words

dusky
dust
dustbin
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Cite this Entry

“Dust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dust. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dust

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dust

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