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Definitions

garbage

[gahr-bij] / ˈgɑr bɪdʒ /
NOUN
refuse, litter
Synonyms
STRONG
debris detritus dreck dregs dross filth junk muck offal rubbish rubble scrap scrapings sewage slop sweepings swill trash waste
WEAK
bits and pieces odds and ends
Antonyms
STRONG
cleanliness possessions purity sense

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The garbage was accumulating a little too fast.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

The streaming subscription you finally admit is garbage.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

These aren’t kitchen-sink movies; they’re garbage disposal rejects, alloys composed of leftover scraps.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

“It’s hell,” said a taxi driver named Pedro as he drove past heaps of garbage rotting in the streets because there is not enough gas for trash trucks.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

She looked over to see that Boaz had turned white as a sheet, and she glimpsed the small movement of a rat disappearing into a nearby pile of garbage bags.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Vocabulary lists containing garbage

Words to Know and Academic Words, Unit 1

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!