as in decorative
serving to add beauty
changes in the original design of the building were purely cosmetic
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cosmetic
William Jones, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Netflix climbed 3% after the streamer announced a 10-for-1 stock split — a largely cosmetic change that’s typically done to rev up retail trader interest.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
The company is currently looking for a partner to dive deeper into the category with cosmetics.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cosmetic
Adjective
However, composite veneers still remain very much a cheaper temporary option and are largely used not only for minor cosmetic changes but also a quick smile makeover.
—William Jones, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Netflix climbed 3% after the streamer announced a 10-for-1 stock split — a largely cosmetic change that’s typically done to rev up retail trader interest.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
That allowed Sarian to launch the podcast Murder, Mystery & Makeup, which pairs true crime cases with cosmetics tutorials.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
The company is currently looking for a partner to dive deeper into the category with cosmetics.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cosmetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cosmetic
Adjective
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No cookie-cutter hotel rooms here—you’ll find artful decorative touches and luxury bedding that beg for a lazy morning.—
Jill Robbins,
Southern Living,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Somewhere between modern and antique, ornate and modest, decorative and practical is this botanical print and stem green earthenware from Anthropologie.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
These days, giftees can find everything from chocolate and wine to makeup and jewelry inside.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
-
But Tilly can’t put makeup on me and do special effects and create something.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This is why gatherings like the Design Table—and the larger framework of ESSENCE Community Compass—are essential, not ornamental.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Indiana has rich biodiversity with thousands of species in unique habitats, but the ornamental plant trade, globalization and development have introduced new threats to these ecosystems.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The pigment could soon find applications in cosmetics, such as natural sunscreens, as well as in photoelectronic devices, thermal coatings, color-changing paints, and environmental sensors.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
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Spanish center Aday Mara, standing at 7-foot-3, left UCLA to pair with Lendeborg in the paint, and dimer Elliot Cadeau comes in from UNC.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
But there was something about the coloring of Matthau.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The researcher added that Satureja had normal brown fur at birth, but her coloring changed in the years since.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cosmetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cosmetic. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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