Synonyms for dust

15 synonyms
2 meanings

noun
verb

Most common

debris rubble detritus powder

Synonyms by meaning

Noun

1. Debris

debris, detritus, rubble, junk

Other

powder, corpse, body, stiff

Verb

1. Sprinkle

sprinkle, scatter, disperse, dash

Other

do in, cleanse, dedust rare

Definitions

n. 1
Fine particles. Fine, dry particles of matter found in the air and covering the surface of objects, typically consisting of soil lifted up by the wind, pollen, hair, fiber debris, dead skin cells, etc.
v. 1
To remove dust from.
The cleaning lady needs a stool to dust the cupboard.

Related words

Word family: dustbathe dustbox dustlike dustman dustpan dustproof dustrag dust-ridden
Phrases: dust devil dust bunny gold dust bite the dust angel dust dust jacket dust storm sleepy dust

Forms

Plural: dusts → rubbles, junks, powders, corpses…
Past participle: dusted
e.g. dusted → sprinkled, scattered, dispersed, dashed…

Choose the right word

Dust, Body, Form, Frame, System or Clay?

Body, form, frame, and system may be either dead or living; clay and dust are sometimes so used in religious or poetic style, tho ordinarily these words are used only of the dead.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

debris The explosion sent debris flying in all directions.
rubble The massive alien monster rose up from the rubble.
powder Is Algeria really a huge powder keg ready to blow?

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
dust		steady
debris		steady
rubble		rising
detritus		falling
powder		steady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters: body², junk¹, dash¹
5 letters: stiff¹
6 letters: powder², debris², corpse¹, rubble², dedust
7 letters: cleanse¹, scatter²
8 letters: sprinkle², disperse², detritus³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (body² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: poussière
Català: pols