1
as in dress
clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation
a tuxedo is the only acceptable costume for men attending a formal event
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2
as in mask
clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else
Halloween costumes that caricature some of the "celebrities" created by the media over the past year
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to dress
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes
the days when people, costumed in their Sunday best, would parade along the grand avenue on Easter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in costumey
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of costume
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
Coel portrays a costume designer to Hathaway's pop star character in the new psychological thriller; her mother Osborne is a seamstress in real life.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
Devoted to wildly divergent pop culture moments, two of the Arlington Museum of Art’s exhibitions share a surprising thread — the intricacy and imagination of costuming.
—Kendall Morgan, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
The theme this year is costume art.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for costume
Noun
Bina Daigeler’s costume design also deserves a shout-out for just the challenge that is called for here.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
Coel portrays a costume designer to Hathaway's pop star character in the new psychological thriller; her mother Osborne is a seamstress in real life.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
Chrome filigree details outline white French tips, nodding to the swoon-worthy Edwardian costuming in period pieces like Bridgerton.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
Devoted to wildly divergent pop culture moments, two of the Arlington Museum of Art’s exhibitions share a surprising thread — the intricacy and imagination of costuming.
—Kendall Morgan, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Saviour follows Ben, played by Archie Fisher (Death by Lightning), who, after borrowing his dad’s police uniform for a costume party, gets into an altercation that results in a man’s death.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
The theme this year is costume art.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for costume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costume
Noun
-
The high-wattage crowd, dressed in luxe silk dresses and luminous pinstripe suits for the high-fashion event, included the likes of Martha Stewart, Allison Williams, Oscar Isaac, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson — a mix of longtime admirers, friends and newer fans of the luxury fashion brand.—
Anna Tingley,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
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Framed on a wall at the Victoria & Albert Museum next to the famous skeleton dress itself, made in 1938, the offhand note offers striking insight into the fashion designer’s place at the center of a dynamic, radical web of artists and designers in Paris in the 1930s.—
Eliza Goodpasture,
ARTnews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Mayor Cherelle Parker said there may be dust around the site and that people with sensitive respiratory conditions may want to wear a mask such as an N95.—
Joe Brandt,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Similarly, Dostál is active with Children’s Hospital of Orange County, in addition to a unique initiative that allows area students to submit their designs for a goalie mask, with the winning entry not only brought to fruition but worn by him in game action.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bathrooms are big and feel extremely luxurious; clad in marble, with rain showers and big bathtubs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Elsewhere in the photoshoot, Hosk swam in a pool, clad in a white graphic T-shirt and black underwear.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The white trim along the front buttons and sleeve hems gives it a vintage feel without being costumey.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Speaking of styling tricks to steal, the foppish ties that almost looked like silk scarves or ribbons at the Yohji Yamamoto show would be a good alternative for women who want some kind of necktie but think a traditional men’s tie reads too costumey.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Out front was a parked Jeep that had been decorated in garish camouflage and emblazoned with the grinning face of a man who went by Lawyer Don.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Most animal defenses, such as camouflage or spines, work broadly against many predator types.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Matter—slim, dark-haired, attired in a dark blue zip-up sweater and matinee idol handsome—is a natural entertainer who savored every moment holding a mic.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
They were identically attired, in a dark suit and dark glasses.—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This is something the watchmaker has been leaning into lately, with the dressy 1908 models showing their movements first, then last-year’s Land-Dweller showing off its innovative movement.—
Allen Farmelo,
Robb Report,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Monday night’s looks spanned the gamut from dressy business pantsuits to full-on Hollywood-style glamour filled with designer labels.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Firefighters in full yellow garb, lugging respirators, practiced with hoses and water spray guns that can be controlled using joy sticks inside the trucks.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Visitors come to the former silver-mining town for its renowned baths, strolling the pedestrian-only city center in yukata (a summer kimono) garb.—
Zoe Baillargeon,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Costume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costume. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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