bequests

plural of bequest
as in inheritances
something that is or may be inherited left small bequests to all of her nieces and nephews

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 bequests Some conditions allowed by courts made bequests contingent on a beneficiary's being married, staying married, or being employed. — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 To be sure, charitable bequests are also fully deductible against the estate tax, which means the destination (charity) is what erases Buffett’s tax liability. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 30 July 2026 While charitable donations did grow broadly in 2025, the giving categories the wealthiest Americans tend to favor – bequests, foundations, education, public-society benefit organizations – fared better than usual. — Jon Bergdoll, The Conversation, 23 June 2026 Three of the past four years have shown big growth in bequests, which may indicate that the great wealth transfer has begun. — ABC News, 23 June 2026 The opera filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging the Kennedy Center illegally took years' worth of donor gifts, bequests and endowment funds. — Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 12 June 2026 Flowers and lignin were helpful bequests from seagrass land ancestors. — David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026 Generally speaking, people shouldn’t be asking for bequests for themselves. — Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bequests
Noun
  • The law, originally passed in 1995, allows the state to calculate the daily cost of incarceration then take that money from current or former inmates who receive inheritances, lottery winnings or certain lawsuit settlements.
    — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Ascherson’s writing about those inheritances offers insights into our own Trumpian, post-Brexit world of rising demagoguery and angry nationalism.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The names may be out of circulation, but storms including Ian, Ida, Igor, Ike, Inez, Ingrid, Iota, Irene, Irma, Isabel and Ivan left lasting legacies.
    — Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Our mission is to build on these studios’ legacies as homes for the greatest filmmakers and storytellers.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bequests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bequests. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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