as in piles
a quantity of wood heaped together for burning a dead body
a funeral pyre
Related Words
Relevance
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 pyres
In Germany, northeastern France and many parts of Scandinavia and the Baltic, people still build elaborate bonfire pyres to light in the evening and tend long into the night.
—
Thomas A. Dubois,
The Conversation,
17 June 2026
Carcasses of trees are piled up like pyres in one; in another, they are laid flat like a mass grave.
—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Varanasi was quite an experience, seeing the funeral pyres.
—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
Thomas A. Dubois,
The Conversation,
17 June 2026
Carcasses of trees are piled up like pyres in one; in another, they are laid flat like a mass grave.
—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Varanasi was quite an experience, seeing the funeral pyres.
—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pyres
Noun
-
This could include sniffing around more than usual or barking and growling at odd places like piles of leaves.
-
The alternating placements of the piles/objects are very precise, which creates a series of chicanes, indicating they are not intended as obstructions but rather to prevent rapid ingress and egress by any vehicle toward the tunnels.
Noun
-
Photos apparently taken by the men themselves show wads of cash on the seat of a car, in a plastic bag and in stacks on the floor of a location in New York.
-
Long-life system design Next Hydrogen expects the electrolyzer stacks to operate for approximately 80,000 hours.
Noun
-
The coast is dotted with colorful fishing villages, while the region’s interior is made up of rolling green hills and gently sloped vineyards.
-
As Genesis 19 continues, Lot and his two daughters take shelter in a cave in the nearby hills.
Noun
-
Other video showed massive piles of debris as people climbed and searched around the colossal heaps.
-
How about heaps of photos of the guys with haircuts, guyliner, and nail polish, and CD booklets sodden with semen, blood, and piss?
Cite this Entry
“Pyres.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pyres. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
