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
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Recent Examples of monuments
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
Walk the National Mall and Lincoln Memorial for an outdoor collection of monuments.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
The exhibition is the brainchild of guest curator Paul Farber, who spent years exploring the meaning of the statue and public monuments — including through his NPR podcasts — before bringing the conversation into the museum.
—CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
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
Walk the National Mall and Lincoln Memorial for an outdoor collection of monuments.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
The exhibition is the brainchild of guest curator Paul Farber, who spent years exploring the meaning of the statue and public monuments — including through his NPR podcasts — before bringing the conversation into the museum.
—CBS News, 25 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
-
Free to Healthy Start participants, the app provides accessible pregnancy and infant health education, program updates, appointment reminders, and links to local and national resources.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Nagging reminders of a season lost.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At 99 Sushi, a brand born in Spain with a Michelin star for its Abu Dhabi outpost, nigiri and maki are made to order at the sushi counter, and the à la carte menu features tempura, teriyaki tuna and beef grilled on volcanic stones.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Grill, an open-air venue, transforms into Silversea’s signature Hot Rocks experience each evening, allowing guests to sear entrées on volcanic lava stones.—
David Morris,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The tribute was read aloud at a club meeting that fall, and then some unknown club member filed away the typewritten pages—preserving them in what would become a century-spanning collection of approximately 150 memorials to members of the Ladies Literary Club.—
April White,
JSTOR Daily,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Zoie has also been mentioned in memorials for her grandfather.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The central stupa also houses various sacred relics, including tooth relics of the Buddha obtained from Sri Lanka.—
Ethan Teekah,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
-
Investigations into the small plot of land began in February, after preliminary test digs indicated promising archaeological relics in the area.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Monuments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monuments. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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