boneyard

noun

bone·​yard ˈbōn-ˌyärd How to pronounce boneyard (audio)
Synonyms of boneyardnext
1
: cemetery
2
: a place where worn-out or damaged objects (such as cars) are collected to await disposal

Synonyms of boneyard

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Examples of boneyard in a Sentence

a once-notorious gunslinger who now lies in the forlorn boneyard of an Old West ghost town
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.
Without these organisms, which provide the corals with food and bestow their stunning colors, the reef becomes a boneyard. — Susan Casey, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026 Visitors can also participate in boneyard games, a dig site and the Dinos after Dark event. — Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026 Many fire engines are mothballed in city boneyards, and the department has lost nearly 50 more firefighters since the Palisades fire. — Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026 The state’s political boneyard has a number of Lake County candidates residing there. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for boneyard

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boneyard was in 1839

Rhymes for boneyard

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Browse Nearby Words

bonewood
boneyard
bonfire
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Cite this Entry

“Boneyard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boneyard. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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