Thesaurus results for CAIRNS

cairns

noun

Definition of cairns

plural of cairn

as in piles

a small quantity of stones heaped together that usually marks a place A cairn of loose stones marked the site.

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of cairns Every few feet were cairns of glass swept away from shattered storefronts. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026 The Park Service recommends that people not disturb, knock down or add to cairns, though some parks caution visitors not to rely on them as official pathways. — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026 Above the glacial lake Ullswater, prehistoric cairns and burial mounds dot the high moorland, including the Cockpit Stone Circle, which spans 90 feet. — Andrea Bussell, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025 Found around the perimeter ring, there are six additional cairns. — Mike Bezemek, Outside, 29 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cairns

Noun

The Town of Munster has enlisted help in getting residents dug out of the seemingly endless piles of debris from the August 11 derecho.

— Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
But her frustration piles up as her efforts to track the package down repeatedly fail.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of piles

Noun

Gardener Tomoki Kato crafted a multilayered landscape featuring undulating mounds, red pine trees, a weeping cherry tree, and a pond.

— Joanna Kawecki, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026
Ahead, pest pros share how to safely get rid of fire ant mounds and help keep them under control.

— Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of mounds

Noun

Unlike traditional technology stacks, AI-native environments are inherently dynamic.

— Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Cardboard boxes, stacks of paper, fabric, insulation from the walls, wiring, packaging, stuffing from car upholstery and lawn cushions, and even grass clippings and leaves are all up for grabs.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of stacks

Noun

Scattered along the walls of the studio were tidy heaps of scarves and mesh, rainbows of stripes, every shade of ballet pink, Uggs of every height.

— Claire Salinda, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
In the video obtained by AP, divers could be seen jumping from their boats and swimming down to heaps of amphorae, each of which was covered in years of sand and barnacles.

— Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of heaps

Browse Nearby Words

cairn

cairns

caisson

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cairns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cairns. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of cairns

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

august

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes