as in decorative
serving to add beauty
changes in the original design of the building were purely cosmetic
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Recent Examples of cosmetic
Steve Bender, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Romanowski, the cosmetic chemist, said consumers should keep their expectations realistic.
—Aya Diab, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
It was also adopted by dermo-cosmetic brands for sensitive skin.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cosmetic
Adjective
Leaf spots are more commonly a cosmetic issue caused by spot anthracnose.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Romanowski, the cosmetic chemist, said consumers should keep their expectations realistic.
—Aya Diab, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
These versatile salves might serve to treat a burn, as a facial cosmetic, or as a hair conditioner in a pinch.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
It was also adopted by dermo-cosmetic brands for sensitive skin.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cosmetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cosmetic
Adjective
-
The square neckline is complemented by decorative buttons, the sleeves are designed with smocked accents and ruffles, and the stripes give it a nautical, breezy vibe that’s fit for your next beach trip or cruise.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
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What began as a commission for two mirrors grew over the following decade into an ensemble of 15, transforming the room into one of the most remarkable decorative commissions of the 20th century.—
Jennifer Baum Lagdameo,
Architectural Digest,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Laurel DeWitt to bring her vision to life, along with makeup artist Yeika Glow and hair stylist Lateafa Alvaranga.—
Janine Rubenstein,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Charlotte has the assets to chisel its way into the acquisition conversation over the next two months, leaving Peterson in solid position to make some upgrades and possibly tweak the Hornets’ roster makeup to increase the physicality necessary to hang with some of the NBA’s top teams.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
His pieces include solid wood chairs with a deliberately rudimentary, almost minimal design, integrating ornamental elements such as marquetry panels or tin bas-reliefs into their backs, legs or seats.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This ornamental thyme can be used to fill in the sandy spaces between stepping stones or crevices in rock walls.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Sixers commanded the paint in the first, outscoring the Celtics 12-4 in the lane and putting center Neemias Queta in early foul trouble for the second time in three games.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
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One of Nashville’s most beloved bookstores is nestled in a homely strip mall between a running store and a paint shop—founded in 2011 by novelist Ann Patchett and Karen Hayes (who retired in 2022).—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Plus, unlike traditional methods of coloring panels that often use 'diffusing foils' that scatter light everywhere and cause power losses of up to 50%, MorphoColor uses a precise 3D photonic structure on the glass surface designed specifically for high transmission.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The split-coloring is believed to be caused by either a genetic mutation or pigment irregularities, according to scientists.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cosmetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cosmetic. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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