1
as in dresses
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 masks
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 clothes
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of costumes
Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Supporters say the inflatable costumes draw attention without violence.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
No one goes quite as full-out as Klum on Halloween, but of all her elaborate costumes, this one is easier to recreate.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Some seem to feel at home in their costumes of adulthood.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Siwa’s mother, Jessalyn, and father, Tom, were painstakingly gluing the glittering stones on every inch of her tour costumes, down to her Nike Air Force 1s.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
There were people in puffy animal costumes dancing on the sidewalk and waving signs as motorists drove by, honking in support.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Jack-o’-lanterns flicker on doorsteps, skeletons hang from porches and children test out their costumes before the big night.
—Brandi D. Addison, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Oct. 2025
People dressed in all kinds of costumes, including as unicorns, the Pokémon Eevee and a giraffe.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2025
Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
Party City Halloween costumes 2025 Customers can shop for the family or office party in a few clicks and have orders delivered through DoorDash.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 22 Oct. 2025
See Halloween costumes through the decades.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
These Halloween costumes for kids are all under $45.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 1 Oct. 2025
Walmart also has both Glinda and Elphaba costumes at around $60 each depending on size.
—Melina Khan, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
Kids and adults can have a fun time dressing up and making costumes from scratch.
—Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Supporters say the inflatable costumes draw attention without violence.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
No one goes quite as full-out as Klum on Halloween, but of all her elaborate costumes, this one is easier to recreate.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Some seem to feel at home in their costumes of adulthood.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Siwa’s mother, Jessalyn, and father, Tom, were painstakingly gluing the glittering stones on every inch of her tour costumes, down to her Nike Air Force 1s.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
There were people in puffy animal costumes dancing on the sidewalk and waving signs as motorists drove by, honking in support.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Jack-o’-lanterns flicker on doorsteps, skeletons hang from porches and children test out their costumes before the big night.
—Brandi D. Addison, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Oct. 2025
People dressed in all kinds of costumes, including as unicorns, the Pokémon Eevee and a giraffe.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
Last year, North — whom Kim shares with ex-husband Kanye West — showed off a few of her 2024 Halloween costumes on TikTok.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
Party City Halloween costumes 2025 Customers can shop for the family or office party in a few clicks and have orders delivered through DoorDash.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 22 Oct. 2025
See Halloween costumes through the decades.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
These Halloween costumes for kids are all under $45.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 1 Oct. 2025
Walmart also has both Glinda and Elphaba costumes at around $60 each depending on size.
—Melina Khan, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costumes
Noun
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A far cry from the 8,000 dresses she's worn in the past, White's pajamas featured a print of the show's iconic wheel as well as purple fuzzy cuffs on both the top and pants.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Denim dresses offered a seasonal reprieve from the oversized and wide-leg jean silhouettes that continue to dominate the runway.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That's why Season of the Witch gives us a different hero (a doctor played by Tom Atkins), a new villain (Dan O'Herlihy), and a wild plot involving costume masks that offer deadly tricks and no treats to those who wear them.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
-
This amorphous network of political content feels like a 2020s TikTokified incarnation of what Joshua Citarella mapped out in his book Politigram and the Post-left, tracking ideological microcultures that are more like kids trying on masks.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Best Clothing Deals The secret to keeping my outfits stylish without breaking the bank is shopping Amazon’s outlet sales.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Major outfits like Warner Records felt too big, but when representatives from Big Loud Texas showed up to a bar show in College Station, the group found its match.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Costumes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costumes. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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