Definition of necropolisnext
as in cemetery
a piece of land used for burying the dead an ancient necropolis that has given archaeologists valuable insights into how people once lived and died

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 necropolis Colma, California, is a necropolis where the dead outnumber the living by a thousand to one. Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025 There were just two dogs roaming the necropolis all that while, unseen and unheard. Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 Surrounded by lovely countryside and located near the coast, Paestum also features the National Archaeological Museum, which houses funerary items, pots, etc found in the town, in the nearby necropolises and at the sanctuary dedicated to Hera. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025 In the 1920s, archaeologists excavating the necropolis of Deir el-Bahri near Luxor, Egypt, found many broken statues of the ancient Egyptian queen Hatshepsut—one of the civilization’s few female pharaohs. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for necropolis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necropolis
Noun
  • Light rain fell as ambulances lined up outside the cemetery and began unloading dozens of plain wooden caskets.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The office also, in one of its more obscure functions, licenses certain private cemeteries.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Ronald White of Milton, dressed in colonial attire, stood with reenactors firing replica muskets in the church’s graveyard following the service and said the anniversary carries personal meaning.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Sure, Neon and A24 have become Oscar-winning indie players with box office hits, but given the graveyard of defunct distributors, why would anyone think releasing movies in theaters is a good business to break into?
    Brent Lang, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Necropolis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necropolis. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on necropolis

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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