1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

churchyard

noun

Definition of churchyardnext
1
as in cemetery

Related Words

Relevance
2
as in backyard

Related Words

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 churchyard Only days before, Al-Rahi had stood in the very churchyard where the crowd assembled Wednesday for his funeral. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026 An unusual structural failure recently caused a dramatic, sinkhole-like collapse in an historic English churchyard — revealing a 300-year-old family vault. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 Nov. 2025 Workers buried long lengths of pipe in the churchyard, to soak up some of the naturally present warmth in the ground. — Chris Baraniuk, Wired News, 13 Nov. 2025 As befits the setting of an old stone church with a shadowy churchyard, theological themes surface concerning everything from faith to resurrection to desecration to the nature of miracles. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for churchyard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for churchyard
  1. cemetery
  2. backyard
  3. catacombs
  4. garden
  5. graveyard
  6. dooryard
  7. campus
Noun
  • The group then reconvened at the Glendale cemetery, where a priest said prayers over the casket, which was gently lowered into the ground as teary-eyed friends and family members watched.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The site was once the cemetery of the Brooklyn Naval Hospital.
    — Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of cemetery
Noun
  • At just 506 feet from Keller backyards, Westlake’s proposal raises the same concerns about proximity that both the Governor and our residents have been voicing.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
  • On the nearly 1-acre lot are mature trees and a flat backyard with a stone fireplace, patio, and fountain.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of backyard
Noun
  • 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
Definition of catacombs
Noun
  • On the property’s 5 acres, the botanist owner has grown specimen plants, trees, and a meadow garden, complemented by an outdoor sculpture, walking paths, and a Native American geological landmark.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Removing the overwintering adults from your garden should reduce the pests significantly.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of garden
Noun
  • But those who get too close risk far more than a soaking, as Niagara is a graveyard for the reckless, the unfortunate and the desperate.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Most of our village had made the journey to Canterbury’s municipal graveyard.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of graveyard
Noun
  • These are often called dooryard violets and the Latin name is viola sororia.
    — Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Bridal elms flank a door; an 80-foot dooryard elm shades a house.
    — Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2022
Definition of dooryard
Noun
  • An Associated Press review found that the campus did not use several public safety practices that have become standard at events around the country.
    — MICHAEL R. SISAK, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Valencia will also require students to attend more on-campus classes, reversing a pandemic-era trend of relying on online courses, Plinske said.
    — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of campus

Browse Nearby Words

churchmen
churchyard
churchyards
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Churchyard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/churchyard. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All