tombstone

noun

tomb·​stone ˈtüm-ˌstōn How to pronounce tombstone (audio)
Synonyms of tombstonenext
: gravestone

Synonyms of tombstone

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Examples of tombstone in a Sentence

the historic cemetery's many tombstones marking the graves of children are telling reminders of the harshness of pioneer life
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Think tombstones, solid skeletons, signs or other decorations that hold their shape and don’t have loose or dangling parts. — Katie Koschalk, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026 Swift haunts Johnson from beyond the grave, and towards the end, a wedding portrait can be seen beside her tombstone. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 28 Sep. 2026 Sweep the debris from the tombstone and leave fresh flowers or stones. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026 Maybe Diana would have seen some point in having HRH carved on her tombstone. — Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tombstone

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tombstone was in 1540

Rhymes for tombstone

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Browse Nearby Words

tomboyish
tombstone
Tombstone
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Cite this Entry

“Tombstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tombstone. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Geographical Definition

Tombstone

geographical name

Tomb·​stone ˈtüm-ˌstōn How to pronounce Tombstone (audio)
city in the southeastern corner of Arizona

Note: Tombstone was site of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881.

More from Merriam-Webster on tombstone

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tombstone

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