potter's field

Definition of potter's fieldnext
as in cemetery
a piece of land used for burying the dead criminals and unidentified people are sometimes buried in a potter's field

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 potter's field According to a 1951 Milwaukee Journal article, the potter's field was the burial site of many victims of the city's 1849-1850 cholera epidemic, which was estimated to have killed as many as 700 of the city's then-20,000 residents. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 11 Oct. 2024 The island is not only the largest potter's field in the U.S., but it is also believed to be the single largest AIDS burial site, according to the NYC Parks Department. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 1 Dec. 2023 The family lived down the street from the potter's field where the boy was first buried, and placed flowers there on holidays. Maryclaire Dale, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potter's field
Noun
  • Set on six acres in the Savannah Historic District, the cemetery often feels like a shaded urban park.
    USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
  • Among the most vocal were members of the Rosa Bonheur Society, a group that has maintained and preserved the cemetery since 2007.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • These graveyards form when whale carcasses fall to the sea floor, becoming a sustaining snack for nearby critters.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 June 2026
  • The world's largest whale graveyard has been discovered at the bottom of the Indian Ocean by Chinese scientists, who found that the vast expanse of both new and ancient carcasses supports huge communities of deep-sea life.
    CBS News, CBS News, 10 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Potter's field.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potter%27s%20field. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

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