as in inscription
something inscribed on a gravestone in memory of a dead person
The epitaph reads "In loving memory of John Gray: husband, father, soldier."
Synonyms & Similar 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 epitaph
Italian archaeologists recently unearthed ancient Roman tombs during the excavation of a necropolis – including one bearing the epitaph of a gladiator.
—
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Charles Cram, a Navy corpsman who was wounded and awarded for his bravery, saluted the epitaph and gently touched the wreath of red, white and blue flowers, as did the others.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2025
Performing at the London Palladium on Wednesday, March 26, the EGOT winner — who shares sons Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12, with husband David Furnish — got candid about his epitaph with the crowd.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
The black-and-white clip featured the late John Belushi, dressed as an old man, walking around a graveyard memorializing his co-stars with goofy, sardonic epitaphs; Belushi, of course, preceded most of them in death, giving the comedy a somber tone.
—Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epitaph
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Charles Cram, a Navy corpsman who was wounded and awarded for his bravery, saluted the epitaph and gently touched the wreath of red, white and blue flowers, as did the others.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2025
Performing at the London Palladium on Wednesday, March 26, the EGOT winner — who shares sons Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12, with husband David Furnish — got candid about his epitaph with the crowd.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
The black-and-white clip featured the late John Belushi, dressed as an old man, walking around a graveyard memorializing his co-stars with goofy, sardonic epitaphs; Belushi, of course, preceded most of them in death, giving the comedy a somber tone.
—Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epitaph
Cite this Entry
“Epitaph.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epitaph. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share