as in tombstone
a shaped stone laid over or erected near a grave and usually bearing an inscription to identify and preserve the memory of the deceased
many of the headstones were for children who had died during the influenza epidemic
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Recent Examples of headstone
But there were obvious omissions; people with military headstones — the type engraved with a name, a branch and a war fought — weren’t on the list.
—
Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 11 Nov. 2025
Israeli soldiers bulldozed the cemetery down the road with no headstones visible to indicate who is buried where.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
National cemeteries will continue burials, and families can still apply for markers, headstones and burial benefits.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Children play among headstones, and locals see ornate mausoleums daily on their way to run errands; the graveyards woven into public life as parks and libraries are in other cities.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headstone
Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 11 Nov. 2025
Israeli soldiers bulldozed the cemetery down the road with no headstones visible to indicate who is buried where.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
National cemeteries will continue burials, and families can still apply for markers, headstones and burial benefits.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Children play among headstones, and locals see ornate mausoleums daily on their way to run errands; the graveyards woven into public life as parks and libraries are in other cities.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headstone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headstone
Noun
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Their names are listed in the African American Museum’s exhibit, but not at the cemetery as there are no tombstones left there – except for a few.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Unless a slang term emerges from a popular movie, pinpointing an exact date of birth is difficult (hence the question marks on the tombstone).—
Michael Tedder,
The Atlantic,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Of course, there are a few famous postmortem monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial and Mount Rushmore.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
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Within its walls lies a complete world with its own medical facilities, a cinema, shops, and large replicas of iconic monuments, including the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headstone. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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