1
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
the Quakers disapproved of monuments, regarding them as idolatrous, so thousands of Nantucketers spend their eternal rest in complete anonymity
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in reminders
something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event
a moving monument to the great war and a tribute to the untold millions who died in it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of monuments
From the scandal of his early figurative work in the 1960s, through the upside-down paintings that became his signature, to the wooden figures shown at the 1980 Venice Biennale that appeared to salute like broken monuments, his practice was defined by disruption.
—
George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026
And the truly curious will seek out the three other monuments honoring the incident and its victims.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Then there’s blocking the release of the Epstein files and unilaterally spending hundreds of millions on monuments to himself and billions on his personal war with Iran, while calling the issue of affordability a hoax.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Physical spaces have always embodied what societies care about — from those first stone monuments that hunter-gatherers built to demonstrate loyalty to each other and to higher powers.
—Big Think, 1 May 2026
Decades of groundwater pumping and urban development over an ancient lake bed have caused subsidence exceeding 39 feet, damaging the subway, water systems and iconic monuments.
—Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
This wasn’t shelter but one of humanity’s earliest monuments.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
The move is part of a broader effort to upgrade the city's historical monuments ahead of the semiquincentennial celebrations.
—Mike Stunson, USA Today, 1 May 2026
The National Mall and Lincoln Memorial anchor an outdoor collection of monuments, while the National Museum of African American History & Culture traces slavery, emancipation, the Civil Rights movement and African American achievement in sports, music and government.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026
And the truly curious will seek out the three other monuments honoring the incident and its victims.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Then there’s blocking the release of the Epstein files and unilaterally spending hundreds of millions on monuments to himself and billions on his personal war with Iran, while calling the issue of affordability a hoax.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Physical spaces have always embodied what societies care about — from those first stone monuments that hunter-gatherers built to demonstrate loyalty to each other and to higher powers.
—Big Think, 1 May 2026
Decades of groundwater pumping and urban development over an ancient lake bed have caused subsidence exceeding 39 feet, damaging the subway, water systems and iconic monuments.
—Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
This wasn’t shelter but one of humanity’s earliest monuments.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
The move is part of a broader effort to upgrade the city's historical monuments ahead of the semiquincentennial celebrations.
—Mike Stunson, USA Today, 1 May 2026
The National Mall and Lincoln Memorial anchor an outdoor collection of monuments, while the National Museum of African American History & Culture traces slavery, emancipation, the Civil Rights movement and African American achievement in sports, music and government.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monuments
Noun
-
Workmen are erecting identical marble tombstones.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In 1975, the museum purchased his work Georgia Gate, a structure of fluidly bent pine staves inspired by photos of Georgia tombstones the artist saw in musicologist Marshall Stearns’s 1970 book The Story of Jazz.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That Pawlikowski is telling a story of actual historical figures proves a fascinating challenge for a filmmaker who has previously invented characters to serve as historical reminders.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
-
There is strong work being done in areas such as text-messaging interventions for youth diabetes (reminders to check blood sugars) and emerging efforts with biometric data collection.—
Steve D. Klein,
STAT,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Lunar regolith, a loose agglomeration of volcanic ash, grit, stones and boulders, covers the moon to depths of perhaps 65 feet, topped by a thin layer of gritty, sharp volcanic dust.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
11 May 2026
-
Chopra Jonas wore the finished piece with Bvlgari jewelry, including a diamond necklace set with green stones.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The committees worked closely together to see what design ideas should be added and toured other memorials to gather inspiration and ensure each branch was represented.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 May 2026
-
Plan your memorials accordingly.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Legend has it that these relics are the remains of martyrs from the early days of Christianity in Rome that were discovered in the 16th century in unmarked graves in the city's catacombs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
-
Channel Islands National Park, California A throwback to old California, the five-island park preserves paleolithic digs, frontier-era ranches and relics of Spanish exploration.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Monuments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monuments. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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