epitaph

as in inscription
something inscribed on a gravestone in memory of a dead person The epitaph reads "In loving memory of John Gray: husband, father, soldier."

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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 epitaph The most important artifact found so far was an epitaph, or tombstone, with an inscription referencing a gladiator, archaeologists said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2025 Charles Cram, a Navy corpsman who was wounded and awarded for his bravery, saluted the epitaph and gently touched the wreath of red, white and blue flowers, as did the others. Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2025 The veterans slowly walked to the epitaph with the help of service members to pay tribute to their fellow Marines and sailors who perished there. Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2025 The black-and-white clip featured the late John Belushi, dressed as an old man, walking around a graveyard memorializing his co-stars with goofy, sardonic epitaphs; Belushi, of course, preceded most of them in death, giving the comedy a somber tone. Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for epitaph
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epitaph
inscription
Noun
  • The Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions date back between 1800 and 1600 B.C.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2025
  • An inscription on the plinth read: Author, Poet, Scholar, Soldier, Jurist Orator, Philanthropist, Philosopher.
    Owen Clarke, Outside, 6 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Epitaph.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epitaph. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

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