as in monument
a shaped stone laid over or erected near a grave and usually bearing an inscription to identify and preserve the memory of the deceased
the historic cemetery's many tombstones marking the graves of children are telling reminders of the harshness of pioneer life
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Recent Examples of tombstone
Their names are listed in the African American Museum’s exhibit, but not at the cemetery as there are no tombstones left there – except for a few.
—
Dallas Morning News, 31 Jan. 2026
Unless a slang term emerges from a popular movie, pinpointing an exact date of birth is difficult (hence the question marks on the tombstone).
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
On a clear morning in March 2018, Betsy Brenner visited Mount Nebo Memorial Park in suburban Denver to locate the tombstone of Judy Goldberg.
—Thomas Koetting, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
On a tombstone at Bath Abbey in England LaFee is vice president of communications for the Sanford Burnham Prebys research institute.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tombstone
Dallas Morning News, 31 Jan. 2026
Unless a slang term emerges from a popular movie, pinpointing an exact date of birth is difficult (hence the question marks on the tombstone).
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
On a clear morning in March 2018, Betsy Brenner visited Mount Nebo Memorial Park in suburban Denver to locate the tombstone of Judy Goldberg.
—Thomas Koetting, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
On a tombstone at Bath Abbey in England LaFee is vice president of communications for the Sanford Burnham Prebys research institute.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tombstone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tombstone
Noun
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For all the thunderclap significance of 1848, Seneca Falls is a monument to women’s patience and frustration, and to the friendships that were needed to sustain their movement through the decades ahead.—
Beverly Gage,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
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Some 30,000 faithful gathered outside the pagan monument, following the stations as they were recited over loudspeakers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Its owners have expanded their impact and influence to the nearby community to limit development and maintain its cultural identity, which includes restoring and caring for the historic stone buildings from the salt trade era.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
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But the signature feature was a set of eighteen grass-and-stone basins that gather rain and, on calm days, gather people.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Similarly, physical activity has been shown to reduce a peptide called beta-amyloid, which causes plaque to build up in the brain and may play a role in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, Hwang said.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
8 Apr. 2026
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And when Beltrán is inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, a Met cap will appear on his plaque.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tombstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tombstone. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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