Definition of monumentnext
1
as in tombstone
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 Quakers disapproved of monuments, regarding them as idolatrous, so thousands of Nantucketers spend their eternal rest in complete anonymity

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2
as in reminder
something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event a moving monument to the great war and a tribute to the untold millions who died in it

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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 monument Qubbat Duris borrows its name from a 13th-century monument near Baalbek, in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, where fragments of Roman limestone sarcophagi are layered atop eight granite columns from centuries prior. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 28 Sep. 2026 Presidents angled for monuments honoring their predecessors, not themselves. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 Sep. 2026 Either way, it’s certifiably woven into the city’s subculture, much like a decades-old dive bar or public monument meeting point. — Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026 Critics contend that the 250-foot-tall monument, which would be nearly 100 feet taller than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, would obstruct historic views and interfere with the privacy of military funerals at nearby Arlington National Cemetery. — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for monument
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monument
Noun
  • 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
Noun
  • Military drone incursions have become increasingly common across Europe since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale of invasion of Ukraine, and the incident served as a reminder of the Baltic state’s vulnerability.
    — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The way a book has been handled, underlined, and annotated, as well as the creases in the corners of pages, are reminders of this dispute and of the reader’s assertion of ownership that will remain forever on their bookshelves.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The main structures at the front (the spa, gym, studio, and reception) are made of natural stone with bougainvillea tumbling down their sides, set between shallow pools of water, echoing the floating effect of the resort above the mangroves.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • What began as a massive peaceful march turned violent when groups of hundreds of hardcore activists clashed with police, throwing stones and setting fire to trash containers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Some at the memorial took solace in seeing so many like-minded devotees come out to the serene mountain setting to remember the avian matriarch.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Weeks after her death, another friend of Kuvshynova, Oleksii Horbach, paid tribute in an online memorial.
    — David Folkenflik, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Beneficial species help digest food, hold plaque in check and support a balanced ecosystem that feeds into whole-body health.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The property, which recently had an official historical plaque honoring the culinary icon installed on its grounds by the city, joins another home with ties to Child that is currently up for sale.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2026

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

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