burials

Definition of burialsnext
plural of burial
1
as in funerals
the act or ceremony of putting a dead body in its final resting place the children wanted to give the dead bird a proper burial in the backyard

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2
as in tombs
a final resting place for a dead person archaeologically significant artifacts, such as stone tools, have been discovered in Neanderthal burials

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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 burials These subterranean passageways are significant in Hawaiian culture, providing shelter for the ancient communities and and being places for ceremonies and burials. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 20 May 2026 These requirements also create problems for cultures and traditions that don’t practice traditional Western burials, instead getting families and friends directly involved in preparation of the body and burial. Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 18 May 2026 The meeting, the agency said, focused on immediate response priorities, cross-border coordination, surveillance, safe and dignified burials and resource mobilization, among other areas. Chinedu Asadu, Fortune, 17 May 2026 In one of the most fascinating Roman burials ever uncovered in Colchester, the remains of a woman surfaced during an archaeological investigation who was buried with objects and valuable substances such as frankincense and gypsum. Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 17 May 2026 Meanwhile, Associated Press journalists in Ituri’s capital, Bunia, interviewed locals who recounted their fears and constant burials. ABC News, 16 May 2026 In the 1920s, burials began on adjacent land, known as New Trinity Cemetery. Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026 As of February 2026, the university repatriated 9,303 human remains, 476,592 items used for burials, and 140,443 other cultural items, among other objects, according to its database. Kerri J. Malloy, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026 These later burials are called row-grave cemeteries because the graves were perfectly parallel to one another. Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burials
Noun
  • Since then, the 65-year-old has only made public appearances at family events, including his parents' funerals and, most recently, the funeral of Britain's Duchess of Kent, Katharine, in September.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Hue, Vietnam Ornate palaces, pavilions, statues and royal tombs are waiting to be explored in Hue.
    Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 13 May 2026
  • Picture Indiana Jones swapping his fedora for a Han dynasty helmet, dodging booby traps in dusty Chinese tombs.
    Urnesha Bhattacherjee, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The text card at the close of the episode notes that between 1980 and 1988, more than 200,000 Iranians were killed during the war, while over 15,000 Iranian political prisoners were executed and buried in mass graves.
    Alissa Simon, Variety, 16 May 2026
  • Here Mina and her friend Lucy Westenra sit among the graves, sketching and talking, later, watching clouds gather for the storm that would bring the Demeter, and Count Dracula, to Whitby.
    Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • The national holiday on the last Monday in May typically includes community gatherings and visits to cemeteries to decorate graves with American flags.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
  • Many land requirements for cemeteries like fencing or paved roads were designed with conventional burial plots in mind, said Sarah Chavez, executive director of Order of the Good Death, a group that advocates for positive deathcare experiences.
    Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 18 May 2026

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“Burials.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burials. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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