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

Synonyms & Similar 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 catacomb For his role as Erik, the disfigured organist who haunts the catacombs of the Paris opera house, Chaney underwent a dramatic — and painful — transformation that involved pulling back his nostrils with piano wire to create a skeletal look. Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025 For a darker experience in the City of Light, venture beneath Paris and explore its hundreds of miles of catacombs. Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025 Choose Sauternes for golden dessert wines, Arcachon Bay for oysters, and Saint-Émilion’s limestone catacombs. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025 The City Market redevelopment will expose historic catacombs in the $15 million plaza. Congratulations to IndyStar's Dana Hunsinger Benbow, the first woman ever to be named Indiana's top sportswriter by NSMA. Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 10 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for catacomb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catacomb
Noun
  • King Charles takes a moment to pay his respects while standing in front of the tomb.
    Staff Author Updated, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
  • Some audibly gasped and appeared in shock when it was announced that King Charles III and Queen Camilla would shortly be arriving to lay wreaths at the tomb.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The collection was packed away in the museum’s vault, untouched for decades to avoid offending Islamic values or creating the appearance of catering to Western sensibilities.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026
  • The Bankers’ Bar is lined with vault drawers, calling back to the building’s origins as the headquarters of a 1950s bank.
    Eddi Fiegel, Robb Report, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • Lying in this crypt is Nathan Lane’s Willy Loman, a tragic humbug, his delusions contradicted by the ruins around him.
    Hilton Als, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Only the crypt—the chapel beneath the church—had been partially completed.
    Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catacomb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catacomb. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on catacomb

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster