stones 1 of 2

Definition of stonesnext
plural of stone
as in tombstones
a shaped stone laid over or erected near a grave and usually bearing an inscription to identify and preserve the memory of the deceased an engraved stone identified the grave as that of a man who had died in the Influenza Epidemic of 1918-19

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stones

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stone
as in sharpens
to make sharp or sharper the diorama showed a villager stoning a scythe

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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 stones
Noun
The bride wore a custom Oscar de la Renta gown featuring 14 yards of Chantilly lace appliqués and hand-embroidered with pearls and diamanté stones. Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026 Each piece is unique, made with tools such as vintage letterpress stamps, Japanese glass seed beads, and the maker’s personal collection of precious and semiprecious stones. Rs Editors, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2026 For the ones who light up the room—stars and stones are a must. Afia Asamoah, InStyle, 1 July 2026 In Thembisa, a suburb of Johannesburg, rioters reportedly threw stones at police and suspected migrants, with witnesses saying sporadic gunfire was heard. Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026 Gua sha stones cost $10 to $40, with electric and LED hybrid versions reaching about $90. Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 Don’t pick those stones up, they are protected by federal law! Padgett Powell, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 Most victims are badly injured or buried by falling stones or other debris. ABC News, 29 June 2026 We’re taught to believe that hard work insures a good outcome, even as the stepping stones to a secure life grow harder to find. Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stones
Noun
  • The skies are gloomy and overcast, fitting for a trip among the tombstones.
    Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2026
  • The Pontiac Gazette newspaper in Oakland County reported storm damage included apple and peach trees uprooted or twisted, churches destroyed, and cemetery tombstones blown down.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • Put another way, salt sharpens the tomato-y-ness of a tomato.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • That outside passion sharpens judgment in ways coaching alone can’t.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • While buildings and monuments safeguard the past, McGee believes the future of Kansas City jazz ultimately rests with the musicians themselves.
    J.M. Banks June 29, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026
  • Within a few years of Euromaidan, the Ukrainian government had outlawed Soviet symbols, including monuments to Lenin.
    Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Palm Beach edges Florida via head-to-head results for 3rd, as does Bay Area over Carolina for 5th.
    Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • General Daily Insight for June 22, 2026 Early hours stir fog, evening firms edges.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • The Food Processor quickly chops, slices, and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations, while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices, and herbs for superior flavor and potency.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 June 2026
  • With a range of 50 to 300 kilometers, the drones, all made in Ukraine, are designed to throttle the Russian army’s logistics – adding a new dimension of strikes to Ukraine’s strategy as the war grinds through its fifth year.
    Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stones. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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