headstones

plural of headstone
as in tombstones
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 headstones Surnames like McKenzie, Adams and Scribner make frequent appearances on headstones at the roughly 600-grave cemetery, which is still allows burials of descendants of the town or people who live nearby. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2026 Others in group were skilled at straightening delicate headstones in a way that prevents damage, said former American Legion Auxiliary National President Lisa Williamson. — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026 There are two headstones near the entrance to the cemetery, but those are for dogs buried in 1972. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026 Cervantes told her the cemetery had identified roughly 15 questionable headstones overall. — Sara MacHi, CBS News, 29 July 2026 For more than a century, Anna Horan’s gravesite was one of the thousands marked by squat, featureless headstones arranged in uneven rows along the hillside in New Haven’s Blake Street Cemetery. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2026 Hudspeth and other volunteers took over the cleanup by picking up leaves and fallen branches and cleaning broken and toppled headstones. — Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2026 Dozens of mourners attended a memorial service in western Belgium on Wednesday during which six new white marble headstones were dedicated to the British soldiers whose remains were recently identified through the use of archival research and DNA analysis. — ABC News, 10 June 2026 Stroll through the grounds for free and admire the intricate headstones and mausoleums. — Krista Simmons, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headstones
Noun
  • King said when individuals were buried on top of one another, the cemetery’s management removed the tombstones and resold the plots.
    — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026
  • There was a time when it was commonly used on tombstones, which is not an informal medium.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Buildings drip with embellishments; monuments to the city’s writers, artists and musicians seem to be on every corner, and the public transit system and plentiful taxis made for a fun and easy whistle-stop tour of some of Budapest’s main sites.
    — Lucy Handley, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Review An iconic city landmark, this 14th-century converted Doge's palace dominates the lagoon, and sits just a short stroll away from the Bridge of Sighs and the monuments of Piazza San Marco.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Headstones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headstones. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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