as in memorial
a special structure or statue that is built to remind people of a dead person who is buried somewhere else
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Recent Examples of cenotaph
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the city’s mayor and other officials laid flowers at the cenotaph.
—
Mari Yamaguchi, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Tombs were frequently located by the sea, especially cenotaphs – empty graves meant to memorialize those who died at sea and whose bodies could not be recovered.
—Marie-Claire Beaulieu, The Conversation, 28 July 2025
Instead of the vast open space, there are now hundreds of near identical cenotaphs, each featuring the name and a picture of a victim.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
Her bed has become her grave, a tomb beneath the ceiling of her room,
the ceiling a cenotaph.
—Mosab Abu Toha, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cenotaph
Mari Yamaguchi, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Tombs were frequently located by the sea, especially cenotaphs – empty graves meant to memorialize those who died at sea and whose bodies could not be recovered.
—Marie-Claire Beaulieu, The Conversation, 28 July 2025
Instead of the vast open space, there are now hundreds of near identical cenotaphs, each featuring the name and a picture of a victim.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
Her bed has become her grave, a tomb beneath the ceiling of her room,
the ceiling a cenotaph.
—Mosab Abu Toha, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cenotaph
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cenotaph
Noun
-
The memorial, which will be displayed in Geneva through May 22, was created by Meghan and Prince Harry's Archewell Philanthropies, in partnership with The Parents' Network.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
After the killing, the bakery, Makeda’s Homemade Cookies, turned into a memorial to Young Dolph.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Trump is also using government money to build monuments for himself.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
-
The idea of a waiting period is common for monuments and memorials.—
Kelsey Ables,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cenotaph.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cenotaph. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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