stones 1 of 2

Definition of stonesnext
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
Build a Wall Building a small retaining wall–type barrier with bricks, stones, or breeze blocks can be a good and aesthetically pleasing option, but make sure to build up on only two sides of the AC unit. Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 15 June 2026 The diamonds finally arrived in April 2026, carrying a significance that went far beyond the finished stones themselves. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026 Those reality checks are regularly referenced as formative stepping stones for all-time greats who went on to win four championships apiece. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026 Calls to mind the adage that people who live in glass houses ought not throw stones! Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026 The stones or rocks produce the overall strength of the blacktop. Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2026 Diamonds are often sold in parcels, and there are thousands of stones in these parcels, especially at the smaller sizes. Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026 The ancient Jewish burial practice of leaving visitation stones at a gravesite has many interpretations, but is often used as a form of remembrance. Christa Swanson, CBS News, 8 June 2026 As Inga grows to adulthood the biggest dam has destroyed the lake’s shoreline, leaving it muddy and covered with stones. Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stones
Noun
  • The Pontiac Gazette newspaper in Oakland County reported storm damage included apple and peach trees uprooted or twisted, churches destroyed, and cemetery tombstones blown down.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 26 May 2026
  • The veil of past and present, for example, takes an abstract turn in Altar I, while Todos los santos (Para subir al Cielo) shows a cemetery with various cross-shaped tombstones, with a ladder leaning on a wall spectrally overlaid on the image.
    Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • Sign up for a short learning series that sharpens skills, then share one takeaway with someone close to strengthen connection.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2026
  • Vance’s referral to the new National Fraud Enforcement Division sharpens scrutiny of the White House’s ‘war on fraud’ and fears the unit could be weaponized against Democratic opponents.
    Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • The involuntary drivers of the buses that had become momentary monuments fist-bumped the fans who streamed past them.
    Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
  • The administration has also completed several smaller projects, such as repairing over 20 fountains and refurbishing around 30 statues and monuments throughout the district.
    Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Rather, Robin edges toward a kind of moral salvation by becoming a mentor to Margaret (Faith Delaney, Here), a troubled little girl whose father was killed in the battle, and the young Arthur (Hamnet‘s Noah Jupe), out for revenge and suffering from an injury that cost him an eye.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026
  • As certification edges closer, some investors are getting impatient.
    Samantha Subin, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Decision speed grinds to a halt when every choice has to work its way through layers of process.
    Nick Chandi, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • Sorry for the rant, but this one really grinds my gears.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stones. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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