stones 1 of 2

plural of stone
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 an engraved stone identified the grave as that of a man who had died in the Influenza Epidemic of 1918-19

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stones

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stone
as in sharpens
to make sharp or sharper the diorama showed a villager stoning a scythe

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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 stones
Noun
Or a pile of stones where once there had been a convent. Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025 Crystal tables were especially popular, drawing customers to sift through bowls of sparkling stones. Sonia Mankame, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025 The priming serum is available in three tints—Bronze Aura, Golden Aura, and Moonstone Aura—that are all inspired by different stones. Tatayana Yomary, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025 However, the emeralds were sold and replaced with turquoise stones. Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025 Now, in addition to scouring Paris to find traces of the artifacts, officials are concerned that the thieves could potentially break down the pieces and sell the stones on the black market. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2025 The stones appear to be carved into volcanic stone, assumed basalt, but analysis of the rock was not performed for the study, researchers said. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025 One of her pieces, which resembles ancient Egyptian stones, depicts Vanessa Williams dancing at Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025 Because of this, Susie says, those with a history of calcium oxalate stones may want to moderate their intake. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stones
Noun
  • Scott transforms her front yard at 1728 Hanson Lane into a theater of tombstones, complete with scores of skeletons, plenty of pumpkins and a generous sprinkling of ghosts.
    Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Pipe words onto Milano cookies to form tombstones.
    Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • During all holidays and at frequent Italian dinners in-between, the family keeps their edge — and sharpens Liv’s — in intense games of Nerts (a fast-paced, multiplayer card game), flag football, cornhole, washers, wiffleball and various other games.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Visual literacy involves the act of reading imagery that sharpens your critical thinking, focus, and precision.
    Big Think, Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But most notably, the surveys identified 35 monuments where images had been carved into stone.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Often, these monuments, when empty, represent an affluent family aiming to communicate its status in Roman society.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As the impasse edges closer to the one-month mark, the poll found 50% of respondents point the finger at Republican congressional leadership, followed by 43% who blame congressional Democrats for it.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
  • McReynolds runs for 200-plus yards and two scores, and ULM edges the Chanticleers.
    Manny Navarro, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • At bottom, that’s the thing that grinds my gears.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The Luxe Café automatically grinds beans to the appropriate size and volume for your drink, and has a hands-free frothing system for creating hot and cold foam.
    Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stones. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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