crossbones
plural noun
cross·bones
ˈkrȯs-ˌbōnz 
: two leg or arm bones placed or depicted crosswise compare skull and crossbones
Examples of crossbones in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These cheeky dress socks feature Acne's signature indifferent logo in a skull and crossbones motif.
—
Men's Health, 21 Feb. 2023
The launch sparked outrage as the company promoted the J.V. death machine with cartoon skulls and crossbones stylized as boys and girls.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 17 Jan. 2023
Symbols of skulls and crossbones appeared on some, but not all, of these bottles; warning labels didn’t become consistent until the 1960s.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022
Instead of crowded beaches with holiday-makers, Ukraine’s southern coast is eerily empty save for skull-and-crossbones warning signs.
—Time, 27 Sep. 2022
There were skull-and-crossbones warnings at the edge of the forest.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022
The cans, covered with a skull-and-crossbones logo, are filled with water from the Swiss Alps.
—Rachel Wolfe, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022
It’s the kind of place where people paper over their windows with skull-and-crossbones flags, where beer bottles sag in the creek bed.
—Katherine Laidlaw, Wired, 9 Sep. 2021
The McQueen lily brooch in antique silver not only looks slightly past its prime, but also, on close inspection, as noted by the New York gem dealer and jewelry historian Benjamin Zucker, has minuscule skulls and crossbones atop its pistils.
—New York Times, 24 Mar. 2021
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Men's Health, 21 Feb. 2023
The launch sparked outrage as the company promoted the J.V. death machine with cartoon skulls and crossbones stylized as boys and girls.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 17 Jan. 2023
Symbols of skulls and crossbones appeared on some, but not all, of these bottles; warning labels didn’t become consistent until the 1960s.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022
Instead of crowded beaches with holiday-makers, Ukraine’s southern coast is eerily empty save for skull-and-crossbones warning signs.
—Time, 27 Sep. 2022
There were skull-and-crossbones warnings at the edge of the forest.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022
The cans, covered with a skull-and-crossbones logo, are filled with water from the Swiss Alps.
—Rachel Wolfe, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022
It’s the kind of place where people paper over their windows with skull-and-crossbones flags, where beer bottles sag in the creek bed.
—Katherine Laidlaw, Wired, 9 Sep. 2021
The McQueen lily brooch in antique silver not only looks slightly past its prime, but also, on close inspection, as noted by the New York gem dealer and jewelry historian Benjamin Zucker, has minuscule skulls and crossbones atop its pistils.
—New York Times, 24 Mar. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Crossbones.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crossbones. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
crossbones
plural noun
cross·bones
-ˌbōnz
: two leg or arm bones placed or pictured as lying across each other
skull and crossbones
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