monuments

Definition of monumentsnext
plural of monument
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

Relevance
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

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 monuments Leave the monuments to the developers and let city employees work in a clean, safe and frugal environment. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 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 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. ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026 At MoCA, ten twentieth-century sculptures dedicated as monuments to the Lost Cause of the Confederacy commingle with a range of modern and contemporary works by nineteen artists and two collectives. Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026 This all-new podcast takes listeners to the small town of Elberton, GA and on a wild ride through granite quarries, graves, cults, Confederate monuments, a swatting raid, and A LOT of explosives. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026 Gerlach is facing nearly 500 charges — including burglary, abuse of a corpse and desecration of monuments — tied to a disturbing investigation at Mount Moriah Cemetery near Philadelphia, the outlet reported. Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026 Sinha and director of photography Ewan Mulligan chose the city’s grime and density over its monuments and parkways. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026 Those imperial cults of personality, and many of their monuments, lasted no longer than the short period of their rule. Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 16 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
  • The half-dozen screens punctuating the show with this gesture offer potent and campy but all-too-serious reminders that anger and nostalgia for a world of white supremacy are not dead.
    Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
  • And if using fertilizer or pesticides is a part of your plan, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has some important reminders.
    Adam Del Rosso, CBS News, 22 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
  • In 2018, two memorials were installed at the last homes of Wolfgang and Marie in Augsburg.
    Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
  • After his death, people across the country, including in Idaho, held memorials for him, while others who spoke out against Kirk were fired from their jobs or faced other consequences.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • As the construction site lies between the city hall, which dates back to the Middle Ages, and the town’s medieval defenses, archaeologists expected to uncover historical relics.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
  • The hotel is preserving relics from his time across the fort.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Monuments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monuments. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on monuments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster