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
By day the place was filled with different sorts of tombstones, many of them inside ornamental enclosures.
—
Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
People used to come to my hotel and leave tombstones and pictures of dead babies.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tombstone
Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
People used to come to my hotel and leave tombstones and pictures of dead babies.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tombstone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tombstone
Noun
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Leave the monuments to the developers and let city employees work in a clean, safe and frugal environment.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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The exhibition is the brainchild of guest curator Paul Farber, who spent years exploring the meaning of the statue and public monuments — including through his NPR podcasts — before bringing the conversation into the museum.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At 99 Sushi, a brand born in Spain with a Michelin star for its Abu Dhabi outpost, nigiri and maki are made to order at the sushi counter, and the à la carte menu features tempura, teriyaki tuna and beef grilled on volcanic stones.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
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Regardless of what the jury decides, Weinstein’s future in a prison cell is all but set in stone.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Microplastics have also been found in human blood, placentas, lungs, and arterial plaque.—
Justin Zorn,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
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There is a color scale that identifies the areas where plaque starts to develop.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tombstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tombstone. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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