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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of costume
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
The show has reveled in its intentionally anachronistic music, casting, and costume choices.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2026
Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
The room houses costumes for performances for the entire year, and there are about 40 years of costumes in the room.
—Najahe Sherman, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
While attending a costume party on Halloween, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor posed for a picture with Happy Death Day actress Rachel Lynn Matthews.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for costume
Noun
Mance cross-referenced each new look (some 12 to 15 costume changes per episode for Pidgeon) against the body of photographs available.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
The show has reveled in its intentionally anachronistic music, casting, and costume choices.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2026
Verb
In it, Oldham costumes up as a shaggy woodland monster, which—after a more nimble inhabitant seemingly swaps into the outfit—proceeds to engage a human in an elaborate dance routine.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
The room houses costumes for performances for the entire year, and there are about 40 years of costumes in the room.
—Najahe Sherman, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Although the film is an adaptation, the idea to use millinery to help build the mythical court dress of Migal Bavel was costume designer Susie Coulthard’s idea.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
While attending a costume party on Halloween, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor posed for a picture with Happy Death Day actress Rachel Lynn Matthews.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for costume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costume
Noun
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To have a charismatic muse like Bond at the center—dressed in a Jonathan Anderson bubble dress, no less—is only icing on the cake.—
Laura Regensdorf,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2026
-
At least for Gen X, the definitive Catherine will always be Kate Bush, dancing across the English countryside in a bright red dress in an indelible pre-MTV music video.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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After the killings in Minnesota, Democrats have threatened to block further funding unless the Administration agrees to impose modest restraints on agents’ conduct, such as forcing them to remove their masks and raising the legal bar for the use of warrants.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
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However, some people present that day, glimpsed in COVID masks — such as the man beneath the van and a nurse reaching out to check on him for lengthy periods — don’t show up themselves.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The woman is fully clothed in all three photos and her face is blacked out.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The theme continues in the restaurant and its adjacent terrace, also clad in plants and furnished with cozy banquettes.—
Gisela Williams,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Never one to get too costumey, however, Hadid gave the look an edge with her styling.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The approach allows a single sheet of material to perform multiple functions at once, including adaptive camouflage, information encryption and decryption, and shape morphing.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
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Jean’s designs produced by the Vitalini sportswear company, founded by former Alpine ski champion Pietro Vitalini, embed visuals that nod to the foundation of the Haitian Republic set against a botanical camouflage, drawn from the work of renowned Haitian artist Edouard Duval-Carrié.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Photos from airports reviewed by USA TODAY from the USA TODAY Network, Reuters and Getty Images taken during the holiday travel season showed that flyers were largely attired in outfits ranging from casual to business casual.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
30 Dec. 2025
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Turkey Trot events The S3 Turkey Trot, which includes three race options, features thousands of participants attired in costumes ahead of the Nov. 27 parade.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
24 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Fortunately, the shoe’s look—sleek but not too dressy—goes with just about everything.—
Kaelin Dodge,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
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Or, style them with a dressy blouse and heeled boots to grab brunch with the girls.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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On Friday Mangione arrived at court unshackled in his tan prison garb.—
Lorena O’Neil,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2026
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Gregersen and Kåss nail the aesthetics, music – Britney Spears – and garb of the aughts.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Costume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costume. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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