Things that are a total loss really worthless or damaging are dross. That gunk between your teeth that comes out when you floss? You could call that dross. No one wants it, and it's harmful if it stays.
The scum or refuse matter which is thrown off, or falls from, metals in smelting the ore, or in the process of melting; recrement.
Noun
worthless material that should be removed; "there were impurities in the water"
Noun
the scum formed by oxidation at the surface of molten metals
n.
The scum or refuse matter which is thrown off, or falls
from, metals in smelting the ore, or in the process of melting;
recrement.
n.
Rust of metals.
n.
Waste matter; any worthless matter separated from the better
part; leavings; dregs; refuse.
Dross
All world's glory is but dross unclean.
At the devil's booth are all things sold, Each ounce of dross coats its ounce of gold.
The scum or refuse matter which is thrown off, or falls from, metals in smelting the ore, or in the process of melting; recrement.
Usage Examples
In any case, his judgment and set of values, acting alone or through his assistants, determine not only what is gold and what is dross but the design of the history which he creates out of the metal. The historian decides what is significant, and what is not.
Misspelled FormDross, Dross, ross, Dross, Deross, D4ross, D5ross, Dtross, Dfross, Deoss, D4oss, D5oss, Dtoss, Dfoss, Dreoss, Dr4oss, Dr5oss, Drtoss, Drfoss, Drioss, Dr9oss, Dr0oss, Drposs, Drloss, Driss, Dr9ss, Dr0ss, Drpss, Drlss, Droiss, Dro9ss, Dro0ss, Dropss, Drolss, Droass, Drowss, Droess, Drodss, Droxss, Drozss, Droas, Drows, Droes, Drods, Droxs, Drozs, Drosas, Drosws, Droses, Drosds, Drosxs, Droszs, Drosas, Drosws, Droses, Drosds, Drosxs, Droszs, Drosa, Drosw, Drose, Drosd, Drosx, Drosz, Drossa, Drossw, Drosse, Drossd, Drossx, Drossz.
Other Usage ExamplesMore people have more access to more readers for less money than ever before in history. It means a lot of dross but it means a lot of very talented people can find and nurture a readership in ways that were not possible twenty years ago. From a creative perspective, that is all that writing is about.