catacombs

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 catacombs But passing motorists largely knew nothing of the collection of handmade replica of catacombs, Biblical scenes and Israelite villages beneath it. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026 Avedon, whose work and career had a big influence on Hujar early on, had produced a series of images of the Palermo catacombs in 1959. Hilton Als, New Yorker, 17 July 2026 The monastery includes a massive network of underground catacombs, which contain the bodies of early Slavic saints, and is one of the most sacred locations in Eastern Orthodox Christianity and a symbol of the country’s cultural and spiritual heritage. News Desk, Artforum, 15 June 2026 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 Legend has it that these relics are the remains of martyrs from the early days of Christianity in Rome that were discovered in the 16th century in unmarked graves in the city's catacombs. 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 His only book, Portraits in Life and Death (1976), juxtaposed photos of people in his circle and with images of ancient corpses in the Palermo catacombs. Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catacombs
Noun
  • The Etruscan painted tombs of Tarquinia, Italy, dating from around the 7th to the 1st century BCE, have long been celebrated for their vivid iconography and remarkable state of preservation.
    Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • More recently, cosmic rays have helped geologists see hidden chambers of active volcanoes, and archaeologists use them to reveal hidden tombs in ancient Egyptian pyramids.
    Jesse Liu, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The mayor said the suspect used a 9-mm pistol belonging to his father, a Department of Education employee, after breaking into a vault where the firearm had been stored and bringing it to school.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Behind a vault door is a hidden passage leading to a former speakeasy.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Janine Mullen Zozaya makes a visit to the crypt of Father William Atkinson.
    Joe Holden, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • At Penzing Studios, the open-air museum at Bad Windsheim, the fortress at Lichtenau, and sites in Nuremberg, the production found medieval stonework, corridors, chapels, crypts, and staircases suited to the royal court.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Catacombs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catacombs. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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