costume 1 of 3

1
as in clothes
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

costume

2 of 3

verb

costume

3 of 3

adjective

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 costume
Noun
Just the costume choices — the biggest thing that put me in the bottom of that challenge was the aesthetic choices. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2025 On Bigger and Weirder, Yankovic will do 20 costume changes, give or take a jacket or hat; his band members will do nine; and all will occur in 45 seconds maximum. Rebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 9 June 2025
Verb
Her setlist consisted of over 25 songs, 13 costume changes, multiple genre switches and a total runtime of about two hours and 5 minutes. Olivia Petty, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2025 His body will soon don unusual costumes for his drag persona, which seduces with looks that highlight his silhouette. Billboard Brasil, Billboard, 26 June 2025
Adjective
The costume designer joined the series during production of that season, the first was costumed by Isis Mussenden. Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025 The Johnnies, notoriously secretive about their uniforms, made their entrance costumed as the tournament's grass croquet courts, complete with mini wickets, mallets, balls and clips. Tyrone Turner, NPR, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for costume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costume
Noun
  • In April, Sánchez attended the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in a 1994 John Galliano dress once worn by the Fellini muse.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 28 June 2025
  • Her Dolce & Gabbana wedding dress was a mermaid-style lace gown with sheer long sleeves and a high neckline.
    Janelle Ash , Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Rounding out the trio is the Circadian Cream Overnight Collagen Seal ($135), a rich overnight mask that doesn’t fully absorb—by design—so skin wakes up still visibly moisturized and refreshed.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The video shows three individuals in plain clothes, two of whom were wearing masks and badges on lanyards, attempting to guide Vargas into an unmarked Honda Accord.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • The two sections of the building are constructed of a spruce framework clad in smooth oak panels, while the central gate is made from traditional 6-inch pine logs.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 June 2025
  • Set in the year 3333 on a desolate alien world, players take on the role of the Swordsman, a somewhat blank slate character with minimalist features clad in a tattered cloak.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Ament then sent off a camouflage hat, which law enforcement believed Evans was wearing before he was killed, to Pure Gold Forensics, a laboratory in Redlands, California, to be tested for DNA.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 26 June 2025
  • The camouflage option is best for blending into your surroundings, while the brown, navy, green and black colors are ideal for everyday wear.
    Caitlyn Martyn may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 10 June 2025
Verb
  • Beside him was Janet, his second wife, who was two decades younger and smartly attired in shades, a plaid sunhat, and a sleeveless blouse.
    Alec Nevala-Lee June 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
  • The Fisherman's Ring Once attired in his vestments, the pontiff returns to the Sistine Chapel and sits on a papal chair.
    Christopher Watson, ABC News, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • Pair them with a dressy outfit for dinner or a casual look for brunch.
    Alexandra Pereira, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2025
  • In early April, an administrative judge ruled the agency retaliated against a veteran officer who declined to wear a uniform shirt in court, preferring dressy civilian clothes.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • In fact, he was wear ing his olive-drab woolens and his over seas cap for hunting garb.
    Nash Buckingham, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025
  • Soldiers from ceremonial units reenact the history of the Army, complete with Revolutionary War garb, music, theatrical vignettes and military pageantry, all meant to serve as a kind of salute to Army soldiers and their families.
    Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 14 June 2025
Noun
  • What’s uncontested is that evolution in any guise has surprises in store.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 26 June 2025
  • Many of Mulaney’s friends — including Kroll, Seth Meyers and others from Mulaney’s inner circle — convinced him to come under the guise of a college friend’s dinner.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Costume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costume. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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