Even the best authors can write dross.
Source: tatoeba (11886862)
Dross
/dɹɒs/
Synonyms for "dross" (57 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (12)
Strong matches (17)
Related words (28)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: impurity, slag, alluvion, alluvium, ash.
- Sentence evidence is available for dross, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "dross".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "dross"
Keep "dross" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "dross" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "dross", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "dross" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
Translations
19 translations across 10 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- отпадъци noun (Waste or impure matter)
Czech
4 entries- brak noun (Waste or impure matter)
- odpad noun (Waste or impure matter)
- škvár noun (Waste or impure matter)
- šmejd noun (Waste or impure matter)
German
2 entries- Müll noun (Waste or impure matter)
- Schrott noun (Waste or impure matter)
Greek
1 entries- περιττό noun (Waste or impure matter)
Ottoman Turkish
1 entries- بوق noun (Waste or impure matter)
Persian
2 entries- تفاله noun (Waste or impure matter)
- لوث noun (Waste or impure matter)
Polish
2 entries- nieczystości noun (Waste or impure matter)
- odpady noun (Waste or impure matter)
Russian
1 entries- отбро́сы noun (Waste or impure matter)
Serbo-Croatian
4 entries- òtpadak noun (Waste or impure matter)
- ȍtpād noun (Waste or impure matter)
- о̀тпадак noun (Waste or impure matter)
- о̏тпа̄д noun (Waste or impure matter)
Swedish
1 entries- slagg noun (Waste or impure matter)
Sample sentences
4 total sentences available.
Dross is related with the incomplete expulsion of the melt from the bottom of the kerf. For precision applications where the clean cutting edges are important the formation of dross at the bottom of the cutting kerf must be controlled. This requires deep understanding of the mechanisms of dross formation and the various materials and laser-cutting parameters which potentially control the formation of dross. For example, the highly cleaned (dross-free) cutting edges can be obtained in […]
Source: wiktionary
One of the main problems with recycling and melting magnesium is the presence of particles in the melt which lead to the formation of dross and sludge. To be more precise, the necessary removal of dross and sludge greatly increase the costs of the facility. And, material is lost.
Source: wiktionary
What thou lovest well remains, the rest is dross
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "dross"?
Closest matches include impurity, slag, alluvion, alluvium, ash.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "dross"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.