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
Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
This planet has a wide variety of aliens that come to life with a variety of prosthetics, makeup, props and costumes.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 5 June 2026
The animals, including Rosie the elephant, a lion named Rex, an orangutan named Agnes and a dog named Queenie, are portrayed either with puppets or with circus performers wearing elaborate costumes.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
Two years later, the trio coordinated with their impeccable Nightmare Before Christmas costumes.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Endless roles and reshoots and costumes and car rides.
—Lindsay Calleran, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
With time, more people started celebrating Pride, and the march turned into more of a celebratory parade with floats, music, costumes, and parties.
—Allison Hope, Parents, 3 June 2026
The scene was genuinely awful to watch, but the movie—a story of plague, passion, period costumes, and an unwashed man in a tunic skipping town to cure writer’s block—ended up thrilling us; the portrayal of two creative minds working together (and apart) was, oddly, familiar.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
The celebration encompasses parades, bars, formal balls and costumes, and the parade routes in particular are family territory.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 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
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
If someone with less skill was attempting a similar thing, the pieces might feel like costumes.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
This planet has a wide variety of aliens that come to life with a variety of prosthetics, makeup, props and costumes.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 5 June 2026
The animals, including Rosie the elephant, a lion named Rex, an orangutan named Agnes and a dog named Queenie, are portrayed either with puppets or with circus performers wearing elaborate costumes.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
Two years later, the trio coordinated with their impeccable Nightmare Before Christmas costumes.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Endless roles and reshoots and costumes and car rides.
—Lindsay Calleran, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
With time, more people started celebrating Pride, and the march turned into more of a celebratory parade with floats, music, costumes, and parties.
—Allison Hope, Parents, 3 June 2026
The scene was genuinely awful to watch, but the movie—a story of plague, passion, period costumes, and an unwashed man in a tunic skipping town to cure writer’s block—ended up thrilling us; the portrayal of two creative minds working together (and apart) was, oddly, familiar.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
The celebration encompasses parades, bars, formal balls and costumes, and the parade routes in particular are family territory.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 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
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
-
Katara dresses as this figure from folklore to help immigrants going through tough times.—
Entertainment Weekly,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 June 2026
-
Obviously, sweater dresses aren’t going to work for 80-degree weather.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Supporters of the No Kings Act argued that because SB 5 only applied to some officials, it would likely be struck down by federal courts — as was a California bill that sought to prevent immigration agents from wearing masks.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
-
Clean Air Club provides HEPA air purifiers, and Save the Night Chicago delivers high-quality masks.—
Mikayla Price,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Most of this sprawling show hinges on nearly 100 outfits showcased on mannequins arranged on a mock runway, the looks assembled by theme, from bondage to Baroque.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
4 June 2026
-
The collection is highly versatile, offering both subtle nods to the sport and head-to-toe outfits, all created in a patriotic color palette of red, white and a variety of blues.—
Kelsey Legg,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Costumes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costumes. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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