as in memorial
a special structure or statue that is built to remind people of a dead person who is buried somewhere else
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Recent Examples of cenotaph
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the city’s mayor and other officials laid flowers at the cenotaph.
—
Mari Yamaguchi, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Tombs were frequently located by the sea, especially cenotaphs – empty graves meant to memorialize those who died at sea and whose bodies could not be recovered.
—Marie-Claire Beaulieu, The Conversation, 28 July 2025
Instead of the vast open space, there are now hundreds of near identical cenotaphs, each featuring the name and a picture of a victim.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
Her bed has become her grave, a tomb beneath the ceiling of her room,
the ceiling a cenotaph.
—Mosab Abu Toha, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cenotaph
Mari Yamaguchi, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Tombs were frequently located by the sea, especially cenotaphs – empty graves meant to memorialize those who died at sea and whose bodies could not be recovered.
—Marie-Claire Beaulieu, The Conversation, 28 July 2025
Instead of the vast open space, there are now hundreds of near identical cenotaphs, each featuring the name and a picture of a victim.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
Her bed has become her grave, a tomb beneath the ceiling of her room,
the ceiling a cenotaph.
—Mosab Abu Toha, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cenotaph
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cenotaph
Noun
-
Although no monument can remember the 168 people who perished that day, the thousands injured or the countless families changed forever by one heinous act, the memorial is tasteful, poignant and impactful.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Some people have been asking Huerta about replacing Chavez’s name with hers on streets or memorials.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Although no monument can remember the 168 people who perished that day, the thousands injured or the countless families changed forever by one heinous act, the memorial is tasteful, poignant and impactful.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
-
California leaders swiftly called for the removal of Chavez’s name from monuments, streets, buildings and holidays.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cenotaph.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cenotaph. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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