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

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 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
  • 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
  • Police identified six persons of interest who work in the judiciary department and would have had access to the vault, and one of those people was currently out of the country, Tudravu said during a news conference.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
  • O'Keeffe pointed to unusually thick walls, along with a stone vault and arched stone roof, as evidence of the building's medieval past.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catacombs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catacombs. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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