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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of costume
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 9 June 2026
And costume designers and style experts agree that the inspiration goes both ways.
—Clarissa Cruz, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
To make that medicine go down easier, RAYE costumes her fatalism in a baroque maximalism.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Angelique Jackson, Variety, 3 May 2026
Donating jewelry—whether costume or fine pieces—is always welcome at the thrift stores and remains a favorite among shoppers.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for costume
Noun
Felix-Hager and Broecker were among the costume designers speaking about their process at HBO’s Sketch-to-Screen panel last week at the Audrey Irmas pavilion in Los Angeles.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 9 June 2026
And costume designers and style experts agree that the inspiration goes both ways.
—Clarissa Cruz, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Verb
The same girls who’d posted winking pop-culture-reference couples Halloween costumes a few years ago were now posting their toddlers in their own pop-culture-reference costumes.
—Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
To make that medicine go down easier, RAYE costumes her fatalism in a baroque maximalism.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
But four times the talent means four times the finery, which was costume designer Molly Rogers’ challenge.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 3 May 2026
Donating jewelry—whether costume or fine pieces—is always welcome at the thrift stores and remains a favorite among shoppers.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for costume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costume
Noun
-
The dress was designed with an open back, with a single strap that featured press-stud fastening.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
10 June 2026
-
Silk pieces come in relaxed, slinky silhouettes such as slip dresses and matching sets, cashmere silk helps sweaters and knits feel lightweight, cotton cashmere is for all the sporty-chic styles, and stretch linen adds an airy feel.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
But there are so many other travel accessories that can make a flight feel more restful or indulgent, including a silk sleep mask, a comfortable neck pillow, or a phone stand.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
-
Of the 40,000 shoppers who have bought the mask in the last month, tons of reviewers rave about the firm, supple results the mask provides.—
Essence Wiley,
InStyle,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Fans clad in Chicago’s black pinstripes and Dodger blue alike rose to their feet.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
-
In 2024 French and American scientists were able to contain plasma at 50 million degrees Celsius for six minutes by using a fusion device called a tokamak clad in tungsten instead of the traditional graphite tiles.—
Ari Sen,
Scientific American,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
The clothes were cute, though, if not a little costumey.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Tuesday's protest came in response to the widespread detention of women and girls in Herat province in recent days by the Taliban's morality police force, for alleged violations of the group's rules on attire, which require women to cover their hair and faces.—
Ahmad Mukhtar,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
The Octagon Girls couldn’t step foot on the White House lawn this weekend in their usual business attire, not for UFC Freedom 250.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
For makeup department head Alexei Dmitriew and hair department head Ally Vickers, the task of coming up with the right amount of camouflage for Powell was one of trial and error.—
Carita Rizzo,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2026
-
From there, Ritva created iterations of camouflage and match patterns to the rocks and her environment.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Harriet, 45, wore a lace gown by Emilia Wickstead and topped the look with the Pragnell Tiara, reportedly borrowing the headpiece from the jeweler behind her engagement ring.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
-
The bride wore a custom lace gown by Emilia Wickstead, pairing it with a Pragnell family tiara—notably, the same jeweler designed Elizabeth's engagement ring.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
If the wedding is outdoors, a dressy sandal or kitten heel is a better option.—
Alexandra Malmed,
InStyle,
9 June 2026
-
This linen style is light and breathable yet polished enough for dressy dinners, strolling along the beach, or exploring the city.—
Jacquelyn McGilvray,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Costume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costume. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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