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
Relevance
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
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 costumes
Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Drawn from the museum’s founding collection, the exhibitions aim trace the evolution of human culture through storytelling, from ancient sculptures of gods and goddesses to Renaissance paintings to photographs, comics, and modern cinema, including props and costumes from the Lucas Archives.
—Marc Malkin, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
The Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum in Biloxi showcases the history and traditions of Mardi Gras through costumes, photos, videos and other artifacts.
—Karon Warren, AJC.com, 30 Apr. 2026
One person in Atlanta has appeared in his videos as Batman villains, for free, dressed in homemade costumes that look like they were ripped straight from the television or movies.
—Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
The kind of the odd thing was doing it in a new environment with different costumes, with different crew and different cast, and then kind of adjusting ourselves to that.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Stormtroopers and other members of the Galactic Empire will be on hand — thanks to volunteers of the Golden Gate Garrison, a Bay Area organization that re-creates the movies’ costumes — to take pictures and hang out with kids of all ages.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
On Saturday afternoon, someone dressed as the Christian messiah was among the dozens of people in costumes and masks seen on a video forcing open the door of a Scientology building on Hollywood Boulevard after a tug-of-war with a security guard.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Two years later, the midnight-movie adaptation The Rocky Horror Picture Show transformed it into a cultural phenomenon, fueled by raucous responses, scant costumes and a sense of communal anarchy.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 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
It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 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
The company brought its famous mascot — the beloved Morton Salt Girl, who every year inspires who knows how many Halloween costumes.
—Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2025
Those costumes from the original Broadway production, including the Schuyler sisters’ winter ball gowns, Hamilton, Jefferson and Burr’s suits, as well as King George’s outfit, are all featured among the exhibit, too.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
Here are five tips for creating last-minute DIY KPop Demon Hunters Halloween costumes.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 30 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
Noun
Upstairs, in the bubble gum-pink Powder Room, Shahniani keeps his drag costumes, made by his favorite dressmaker, Kelsey Swarthout, who uses upcycled Disney sheets in her designs.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Drawn from the museum’s founding collection, the exhibitions aim trace the evolution of human culture through storytelling, from ancient sculptures of gods and goddesses to Renaissance paintings to photographs, comics, and modern cinema, including props and costumes from the Lucas Archives.
—Marc Malkin, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
The Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum in Biloxi showcases the history and traditions of Mardi Gras through costumes, photos, videos and other artifacts.
—Karon Warren, AJC.com, 30 Apr. 2026
One person in Atlanta has appeared in his videos as Batman villains, for free, dressed in homemade costumes that look like they were ripped straight from the television or movies.
—Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
The kind of the odd thing was doing it in a new environment with different costumes, with different crew and different cast, and then kind of adjusting ourselves to that.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Stormtroopers and other members of the Galactic Empire will be on hand — thanks to volunteers of the Golden Gate Garrison, a Bay Area organization that re-creates the movies’ costumes — to take pictures and hang out with kids of all ages.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
On Saturday afternoon, someone dressed as the Christian messiah was among the dozens of people in costumes and masks seen on a video forcing open the door of a Scientology building on Hollywood Boulevard after a tug-of-war with a security guard.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Two years later, the midnight-movie adaptation The Rocky Horror Picture Show transformed it into a cultural phenomenon, fueled by raucous responses, scant costumes and a sense of communal anarchy.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 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
It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 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
The company brought its famous mascot — the beloved Morton Salt Girl, who every year inspires who knows how many Halloween costumes.
—Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2025
Those costumes from the original Broadway production, including the Schuyler sisters’ winter ball gowns, Hamilton, Jefferson and Burr’s suits, as well as King George’s outfit, are all featured among the exhibit, too.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
Here are five tips for creating last-minute DIY KPop Demon Hunters Halloween costumes.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 30 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costumes
Noun
-
Inspired by blooms outside, floral dresses are an uplifting way to look polished while staying comfortable.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Designed for warm-weather ease, linen dresses like this elegant frock from Quince offer a polished look that doesn’t require overthinking your outfit.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The measure has some exceptions, such as undercover operations, SCUBA teams, bomb squads, and SWAT teams, but broadly bans masks.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
1 May 2026
-
The legislation, though, doesn’t include the new measures that Democrats had been pushing for, such as prohibiting agents from wearing masks.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even relaxed outfits feel considered, with attention to fit and proportion.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The camera then cuts to the Foo Fighters, dressed in nice, clean, crisp white outfits, performing to an ecstatic crowd similarly dressed in nice, clean, crisp white outfits.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Costumes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costumes. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
