catacombs

noun

plural of catacomb
as in tomb
an underground burial chamber explored the catacombs looking for evidence about burial customs of that ancient society

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 catacombs But passing motorists largely knew nothing of the collection of handmade replica of catacombs, Biblical scenes and Israelite villages beneath it. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026 Avedon, whose work and career had a big influence on Hujar early on, had produced a series of images of the Palermo catacombs in 1959. — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 17 July 2026 The monastery includes a massive network of underground catacombs, which contain the bodies of early Slavic saints, and is one of the most sacred locations in Eastern Orthodox Christianity and a symbol of the country’s cultural and spiritual heritage. — News Desk, Artforum, 15 June 2026 Don't let the name Wind Cave National Park lull you into thinking only of the dark and mysterious catacombs of the cave. — Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 14 May 2026 Legend has it that these relics are the remains of martyrs from the early days of Christianity in Rome that were discovered in the 16th century in unmarked graves in the city's catacombs. — ABC News, 8 May 2026 Players explore the environment using a slew of weapons and magic spells in hidden dungeons, caves, catacombs and more. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026 The Mummy is set up with the grace of Boris Karloff lumping around the catacombs. — Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026 His only book, Portraits in Life and Death (1976), juxtaposed photos of people in his circle and with images of ancient corpses in the Palermo catacombs. — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catacombs
  1. tomb
  2. vault
  3. crypt
Noun
  • Architect Todd Ernst, who helped uncover the mural, compared the experience to discovering an Egyptian tomb.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But there is very little archaeological evidence available, given that many of the earliest Egyptian tombs were plundered and/or hastily excavated.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of tomb
Noun
  • The Dakota and Ojibwe language archive that leaders feared was lost in a Minneapolis fire survived, and it is being moved to the basement vault of an old bank building.
    — Eric Henderson, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • At the center of it all is the daring, epic raid on a bank vault deep beneath the streets of Zurich.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of vault
Noun
  • The grandiose panic room where Kate and Hal are locked down after the shooting was filmed in the crypt of a church on the Upper West Side.
    — Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Michael the Lawyer and Ben the Barrel Racer go into the third crypt (Alan calls them gay Lara Crofts) and have the option of grabbing $15,000 in gold or $5,000 and a clue about the Traitors.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of crypt

Browse Nearby Words

catacomb
catacombs
catalog
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Cite this Entry

“Catacombs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catacombs. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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