knickknack

noun knick·knack \ ˈnik-ˌnak \

variants: or less commonly nicknack

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Examples: knickknack in a Sentence

Definition of knickknack

: a small trivial article usually intended for ornament

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Examples of knickknack in a Sentence

The shelves were filled with knickknacks.
a variety of pretty porcelain knickknacks adorned the mantel

Recent Examples of knickknack from the Web

Her store, opened in 1984, started out with books on diverse topics, along with knickknacks for the home, Tim McNeal said.

— cathie anderson, sacbee, "Carol McNeal, who built a library of black experience at Sacramento bookstore, dies at 86," 10 July 2018
Most freshmen decorate with eclectic knickknacks; not so the 2017 T&C swan.

— olivia martin, Town & Country, "Delilah Belle Hamlin's Luxurious Dorm Room is a Tribeca Apartment," 28 June 2018
Only two blocks long, this shabby lane full of competing aromas, lined with shops selling jewelry, antiques, knickknacks, artworks and, especially, Oriental rugs, has been a magnet for generations of foreign visitors looking for Afghan exotica.

— rod nordland, New York Times, "There Are No Chickens on Chicken Street. Now There Are No Customers Either.," 22 Apr. 2018
Consequently, all the wedding souvenirs for sale in shops — the tea towels, tea cups and other knickknacks — had the wrong date.

— maria puente, USA TODAY, "Royal wedding drama: Meghan Markle's not alone when it comes to prenuptial stress, chaos," 16 May 2018
The first floor does hold some accessories and knickknacks: costume jewelry, neon beer signs, German beer steins, early 20th-century postcards, vintage Playboys and comic books.

— ryan smith, Chicago Reader, "Will the music finally stop at Recycled Records in Springfield?," 30 May 2018
Cost: Prices range from $16 per month (with free shipping) for a box that includes one paperbackto $45 per month (plus shipping and handling) for a box that includes one paperback and various grooming products, accessories or knickknacks.

— nora krug, chicagotribune.com, "Looking for the perfect book? Here are nine subscription boxes that can help," 30 May 2018
Inside, small vignettes turn up here and there, composed from little toys, knickknacks and accoutrements with African and African American ties — basketball players, Egyptian sphinxes, braided hair extensions, black ballerinas.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "Lauren Halsey takes a fantastic voyage in MOCA's 'we still here, there'," 24 May 2018
The kitchen is painted royal purple and the walls are covered with knickknacks and decor that reflects different cultures Ehrlich is interested in, including Indian, African and traditional American themes.

— kathryn gregory, The Courier-Journal, "Lush shade garden is a hidden gem in this Old Louisville mansion," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'knickknack.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.