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 sound of the title track is reminiscent of kicking a pebble on a road or watching dust particles dancing in a shaft of light. — Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026 The tacurú stone, together with the vegetation, was both the oil and the dust. — Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
While fans applauded the spectacle, Parrish dusted himself off and returned to mid-field. — Abby Disalvo, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026 There’s local cheese dusted with bee pollen from the island’s own hives. — Monica Mendal, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dust
  1. debris
  2. soil
  3. smoke
  4. garbage
  5. land
  6. bury
  7. trash
  8. ground
Noun
  • Nonetheless, the costs of intercepting incoming munitions could prove particularly high if targets are engaged over populated areas, with drones, defensive munitions and falling debris all posing risks to people and property on the ground.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Photos and video shared on social media show debris thrown in the air and pummeling rain as a possible tornado touched down at Atlantic Beach on Long Island's outer barrier.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of debris
Noun
  • Officials had to reset Buffalo’s play clock in the first quarter so umpire Tab Slaughter could smash down loose soil in the backfield.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Add the impacts of climate change, which have resulted in warmer springs and drier soils that reduce runoff into the reservoirs, and average or above-average rainfall no longer guarantees equivalent runoff.
    — Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of soil
Verb
  • During a pat search, officers found a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine on driver Bambi Bryant, police said.
    — Bay City News, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The music video opens with a shot of Kidman, 59, wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigarette, exiting a car as Troye watches through a cafe window.
    — Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of smoke
Noun
  • Most conflicts between humans and bears are traced back to human food, garbage, pet food, bird seed, or other things that attract bears.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Occupants of a residence on the 1400 block of 104th Avenue were angry at the auto body shop for parking lots of cars outside, loud noises and excessive garbage.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of garbage
Noun
  • Digital artist Lily Belmira has created a free video game that recreates the environment of Michael Heizer’s monumental land art sculpture City, 1970–2022, in the Nevada desert.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 14 Aug. 2026
  • On top of the congestion problem, the Strait of Hormuz disruption is also forcing carriers to rely on more expensive alternative routings and land bridges, tacking on substantial operational costs.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of land
Verb
  • These included a child buried face down, a skeleton positioned as in a crucifixion, graves with stones placed around the skull as if to prevent biting or movement, as well as other graves with sickles and padlocks.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • As the Danube waters shrank in Bulgaria, researchers were thrilled to find and recover a jawbone, tusks, a shoulder blade, ribs and other bone fragments belonging to an extinct woolly mammoth buried deep in the sand.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of bury
Noun
  • Experts encourage people living in bear-prone areas to lock doors, keep trash and other food sources stored in bear-proof containers and avoid putting out bird feeders.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Remove any unsecured trash, food and strongly-scented items including sunscreen, deodorant and Chapstick from your vehicles and yard.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of trash
Noun
  • The sprawling, lushly landscaped grounds feature a large main pool as well as a separate, quieter adults-only pool, all overlooking the ocean.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Without adequate reinforcement, shifting ground can cause tunnels to collapse suddenly, burying miners within seconds.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of ground

Phrases Containing dust

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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 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dust

Nglish: Translation of dust for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dust

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