dross

noun

Meaning

Waste matter or refuse that forms on the surface of molten metal, or anything considered worthless and undesirable.

Examples

  • The factory manager ordered the workers to clear the dross from the furnace before starting the next batch.
  • Critics dismissed the new novel as mere dross, lacking any real literary merit or emotional depth.

Synonyms: waste, rubbish, refuse, slag, detritus