white elephant

Definition of white elephantnext

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for white elephant
Noun
  • The subject remains a sensitive one in Indonesia, and the film reflects it subtly – a throwaway line at the start describes how a Chinese character has had to register his business under his, supposedly, native Indonesian son-in-law.
    Marcus Lim, Variety, 18 June 2026
  • Plastic throwaway containers have become a part of our everyday lives.
    Kelley Dennings, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • But the Hurricanes turned speedy castaways like Ehlers, Miller, Taylor Hall and Eric Robinson into Cup champions.
    Murat Ates, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • Rams castaway Cooper Kupp still boasts an unexpected wry sense of humor.
    Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • First-round pick Cameron Carr only played in the first half Monday, finishing with five points, one rebound, one assist, one steal, one block and three fouls in 12 minutes and 49 seconds.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Within seconds of arriving, we were checked in, and our luggage was tagged and whisked away, giving us ample time to use the bathroom and enjoy a cup of coffee in the lounge.
    Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • Only construction waste will be accepted at the landfill such as, brush and rubbish, concrete, brick, rock, wood, paper, plastics, cardboard and roofing shingles and tiles.
    Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
  • So where does the rubbish come from?
    Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Authorities confirmed the match after obtaining his DNA from trash.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Sugary drinks, greasy grill residue, dropped crumbs and overflowing trash are all fair game.
    Sharon Wu, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Some relief workers are using donkeys and bulldozers to remove solid waste, according to Louise Wateridge, a communications officer for the UN’s children’s agency in the Middle East and North Africa.
    Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • Then, cleaning robots would handle waste detection and room upkeep using AI.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • On Saturday in Philadelphia, Gustavo Alfaro’s team turned up against France looking for a scrap.
    Stuart James, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • In his second scrap under the UFC banner, Adriano Martins knocked out Makhachev in the first round.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“White elephant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/white%20elephant. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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