1
as in ornamental
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest
be careful of the fragile curios on the end tables
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rarity
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest
a museum's collection of curios brought back from the Far East by 19th-century traders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of curio
Consider a curio cabinet or shadow box to highlight sentimental items in an organized manner.
—
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2025
Hamnet is a somber watch, much more nakedly sentimental and weepy than Zhao’s other films (including the wonderful neo-Western The Rider, the Oscar-winning drama Nomadland, and the Marvel curio Eternals).
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2025
Advertisement While most fish-out-of-water stories are keen to highlight the strangeness of the world in which the protagonist has embedded themselves, Rental Family treats the curios of Japanese culture with the utmost respect and a naturalistic approach.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
Ever since its London premiere in 1986, folks have tried and failed to crack this convoluted curio of a musical, which follows a Cold War-era love triangle set in the cutthroat world of competitive chess.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curio
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2025
Hamnet is a somber watch, much more nakedly sentimental and weepy than Zhao’s other films (including the wonderful neo-Western The Rider, the Oscar-winning drama Nomadland, and the Marvel curio Eternals).
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2025
Advertisement While most fish-out-of-water stories are keen to highlight the strangeness of the world in which the protagonist has embedded themselves, Rental Family treats the curios of Japanese culture with the utmost respect and a naturalistic approach.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
Ever since its London premiere in 1986, folks have tried and failed to crack this convoluted curio of a musical, which follows a Cold War-era love triangle set in the cutthroat world of competitive chess.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
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To get the most benefits from DE, read our simple application tips for vegetables, herbs, ornamentals, and houseplants.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 Mar. 2026
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Unlike ornamentals, which generally all go into the ground around Mother’s Day, vegetable crops have a specific planting window for success.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Rangers have tickets available for their home opener, something of a rarity.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Mar. 2026
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Bodytraffic quickly became a beacon for contemporary dance in a city where such a company was a rarity.—
Steven Vargas,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Dove's Nest also sells a cute selection of gifts, high-end housewares, and apparel—the perfect place to fuel up and grab a souvenir.—
Jill Robbins,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
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There is a new centerpiece in Auriemma’s office, surrounded by the trophies and the souvenir basketballs serving as timeline for his career as the winningest coach, by championships or wins (1,284), in college basketball history, men’s or women’s side.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The list includes coveted exotics, like the Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM, along with some unexpected names, like the Toyota Rav4 EV short-wheelbase prototype.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
3 Mar. 2026
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These results further reinforced the depth of demand across both European exotics and culturally significant collector cars.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The regen paddle was almost a novelty item compared to the Bolt’s new system.—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
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Folks from around here are known to put almost anything on a barbecue pit, and Jack Stack has all the usual suspects—brisket, turkey, sausage, pork, and chicken—plus novelties like lamb ribs and their massive Crown Prime Beef Ribs.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This small acrylic container is a great way to draw the eyes of your guests to a small knickknack of your choosing.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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Whether antiques, cherished knickknacks, or heirlooms, items that are very delicate and/or precious to the customer are typically items house cleaners won’t want to mess with in order to cut down the risk of damaging them.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curio. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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