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
Born in what is now Zimbabwe, Bland spent hours as a child hurling stones at telegraph poles. James Wallace, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025 These stones are abrasive volcanic rocks that are extremely effective at scrubbing away tough stains. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2025 Use a water pick or cotton swab to help gently push the stones out. Mark Gurarie, Health, 4 Sep. 2025 Fathi's image captures a swarm of bright Perseid meteors streaking across the dense dust lanes and glowing heart of the Milky Way, framed by the ancient stones and truncated columns of ancient Soknopaiou Nesos. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Designed by the family, it is set among travertine stones and fields—and created as a special space for fans to see Andrea Bocelli perform under the stars. Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 But more than just keeping up appearances, technological advancements have made carving bigger stones far easier than a century ago, as jewelers are no longer solely cutting rough diamonds by hand. Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025 This suggests the cow was likely born in an area distinguished by older Palaeozoic stones. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025 Begin by marveling at the 5,600-year-old Ġgantija Temples, some of the world’s oldest standing stones. AFAR Media, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stones
Noun
  • Two tombstones have gone viral on Reddit after users noticed a striking difference between the way a husband and wife were memorialized.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
  • His people had been in the area since the early nineteenth century, and the tombstones were worn and covered in lichen.
    Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Capital might fuel expansion, but the process also sharpens leadership skills, deepens industry relationships and often reveals operational blind spots.
    Jessica Billingsley, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Here, the messenger planet sharpens our focus and general attunement, urging us to choose our words and actions carefully.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • During perestroika, the city regained its historical name of Mairupol, and Ukrainian authorities demolished Zhdanov city monuments.
    Yegor Mostovshikov, The Dial, 9 Sep. 2025
  • At the time, the Czech capital still held traces of Kafka’s era; now, Prague serves almost like a shrine to the author, with an official museum and several monuments around town, which range from iconic to kitsch in her view.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In Israel, talk of controlling all the territory, of clearing it of Palestinians, of ethnic cleansing, and of Jordan-is-Palestine, edges its way into the mainstream.
    Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • As the summer season grinds to a near halt, several holdover titles rounded out the top five.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 Aug. 2025
  • As Russia’s war machine grinds forward in eastern Ukraine, there is another offensive being waged far beyond the front line.
    Rachel Wilson, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stones. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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