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
Its two-story circular set piece, created by scenic and costume designer Anna Fleischle, is simple yet effective, managing to evoke the Trent Bridge that winds through Nottingham and the hardened concrete blocks of the Meadows and Jacob’s prison. Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025 As this report explained, Miral has amassed its own team of industry experts who handle everything from costume creation and show design to operations and management. Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Keaton’s contributions to her look in Annie Hall caused a conflict with the film’s costume designer, Ruth Morley, who initially envisioned a character who wasn’t so fully formed from a style perspective. Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2025 Lopez, her singing splendid and her dancing good enough, oozes movie-star glamour, gloriously larger than life in Colleen Atwood and Christine Cantella’s dazzling costumes. Moira MacDonald, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The show then cut to the host and his sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, backstage, costumed as a tiger and a banana, respectively. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025 Whelan said that a costuming Easter egg in the play pays tribute to original Love Boat captain Gavin MacLeod. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for costume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costume
Noun
  • Rae walked down the aisle wearing an elegant wedding dress designed by Badgley Mischka.
    Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The brand just dropped a slew of fall dresses crafted from luxe fabrics like cashmere and washable silk at a fraction of the cost of designer alternatives.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • If your girlfriend is always on the go, these rose-gold foil eye masks are a lifesaver—locking in hydration so she looks refreshed in just minutes.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Costumes of cartoon characters and puffy pigs, leopard outfits, Halloween masks and fuzzy hats.
    Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Most of the bodies appear to belong to young men, and those who are clothed appear to be wearing civilian clothes.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The ultra-rare Mercedes-McLaren SLR is a timeless icon, one that almost mandates being clad a silver hue.
    Sean Evans, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Our daughter, Miriam, came along on most turkey hunts, earmuffs on her head and camouflage draped over her backpack carrier.
    Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Defensive end Charles Omenihu wore a cropped camouflage jacket with a white T-shirt and leather moto pants.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The secret venue, lighting and ambience are supplied by host Triple Pocket Events, but diners, attired entirely in white, must supply their own picnic meal, white tables, chairs, cloths, dishware, cutlery and French wine and champagne.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2025
  • His image was captured on a trail camera mounted in the driveway, attired in camouflage, an AR-15-style semiautomatic assault rifle strapped to his chest.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Pair it with your favorite jeans, layer it with fall dresses, or style it over dressy tops to wear to work.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Stay away from sneakers in favor of dressier footwear like strappy heels, flip-flops, and penny loafers.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In a clip shared on social media, Black, dressed in his clerical garb, is seen being struck by the pepper ball and collapsing on the ground as others come to his aid.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The garb is ostentatious for sure and gives out cabana wear vibes, but there's no better time for a skeleton to take a tropical vacation getaway than Halloween, right?
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In this guise, Saverino is breathless with excitement.
    Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
  • All under Guadagnino’s scrupulous direction and cinematographer Malik Sayeed’s (Belly) visualization, the performative guise of Ivy League school decorum delivers as the perfect dichotomy to the serious nature of what these characters put each other through.
    Malik Peay, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Costume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costume. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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