Definition of catacombnext
as in tomb
usually catacombs plural an underground burial chamber explored the catacombs looking for evidence about burial customs of that ancient society

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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 catacomb Don't let the name Wind Cave National Park lull you into thinking only of the dark and mysterious catacombs of the cave. — Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 14 May 2026 The veneration of the catacomb saints during the late 17th and 18th centuries came at a time when vast stretches of Europe, including Bavaria, were still reeling from the Thirty Years’ War. — ABC News, 8 May 2026 Players explore the environment using a slew of weapons and magic spells in hidden dungeons, caves, catacombs and more. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026 The Mummy is set up with the grace of Boris Karloff lumping around the catacombs. — Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catacomb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catacomb
Noun
  • Last year, the museum returned fragments of a silk manuscript from China that dated to more than 2,000 years ago and had been looted from a tomb.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Back then, the town was a rural, rapidly industrializing fringe of Hangzhou with a largely undeveloped archaeological site that featured Neolithic tombs and settlements buried deep beneath farmland.
    — Afra Wang, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Nature’s underground vaults Scaling hydrogen into a major energy source depends largely on securing viable, high-capacity storage sites.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Swift’s propensity for clearing her musical vaults answers to a more-is-better audience ethos.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Michael the Lawyer and Ben the Barrel Racer go into the third crypt (Alan calls them gay Lara Crofts) and have the option of grabbing $15,000 in gold or $5,000 and a clue about the Traitors.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • For safe-keeping, the flag is displayed in very low light, giving the chamber a sacred feel, like a cathedral crypt.
    — Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Catacomb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catacomb. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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