RESIDUE Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

residue

noun

ˈre-zə-ˌdü

Definition of residue

as in debris

the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed the detective noticed an ashy residue in the sink and deduced that a piece of paper had been burned there

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in remainder

a remaining group or portion the residue of our Thanksgiving feast consisted of a denuded turkey carcass and a couple rolls

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 residue Washing vegetables with baking soda can help remove dirt and some surface pesticide residues, making your produce cleaner. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 5 July 2026 Using too much detergent leaves soapy residue in fabrics, trapping dirt, bacteria, and hard water minerals, which leaves clothes looking dull, feeling stiff and scratchy, and smelling bad. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026 Food often contains residues from multiple pesticides, as monitoring programs in Europe and the United States have identified. — Brad Reisfeld, The Conversation, 6 July 2026 Gold Bond recently released its Refreshing Hand Creams, a collection of four lightly scented, ultra-hydrating hand creams that stave off scaly, flaky hands without leaving behind a greasy residue. — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for residue

Recent Examples of Synonyms for residue

Noun

Rodríguez denied those claims, saying some remote areas were difficult to reach because roads were blocked by landslides and debris, forcing authorities to rely on motorcycles, drones and satellite imagery.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Seconds later, a powerful explosion blasted through the doorway, shattering windows and sending vertical blinds and debris flying as firefighters quickly retreated from the building.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of debris

Noun

And, as the country and its people begin to piece together the full toll of the destruction amid the rubble, the notion of playing baseball seems absurd in the wake of such tragedy.

— Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Residential buildings were badly damaged in the assault, leaving people trapped in multi-story apartment blocks and an entire family that was killed pulled from the rubble, while cars were seen burning on city streets.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

Definition of rubble

Noun

To minimize risks during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advises incorporating frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 4 July 2026
Increasingly, however, many are embracing a different definition—one that includes rest, healing, preventative care, joy, and self-investment.

— Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of rest

Noun

Reaching the wreckage proved difficult as emergency workers, backed by paramilitary forces, climbed down a steep mountainside to the ravine up to 25 meters (80 feet) deep.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
According to the operator, the pilot used a small clipboard to record load notes and fuel calculations, but that clipboard was not found in the wreckage, investigators said.

— Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

Definition of wreckage

Noun

Although astronomers are pretty sure there is a neutron star in the heart of the remnant based on indirect evidence, no pulsar radio emissions have yet been detected.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 July 2026
But beyond these genetic remnants, the exact nature of any interactions between our species and Neanderthals is much more of a mystery.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 6 July 2026

Definition of remnant

Noun

As a reminder, the Mission San Juan Capistrano tour ends at the ruins of what’s now called the Great Stone Church, which collapsed in an 1812 earthquake that killed 40 Acjachemen worshippers.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
The engineer flew in from Tampa to try and find her mother, sister, brother-in-law and nephew in the ruins of their nine-story apartment building, sleeping on the ground since arriving two nights ago.

— Isa Soares, CNN Money, 1 July 2026

Definition of ruins

Browse Nearby Words

residuals

residue

residues

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“Residue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/residue. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of residue

noun

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