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
Wes Anderson's latest curio, The Phoenician Scheme, held strong in its second week of release to score the No. 6 spot with a $6.2 million take.
—
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 June 2025
Trapped: Mind-Altering Shorts Date & Venue TBA Tap into the collective unconscious of a rogue’s gallery of grifters, hermits, and sociopaths with our infamous showcase of gloriously confounding cinematic curios.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 12 May 2025
Everton’s first goal was the nadir for that curios theme of United’s display.
—Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
The owners of a Florida curio shop have been arrested for selling human remains on Facebook Marketplace, according to the Orange City Police Department.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curio
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 June 2025
Trapped: Mind-Altering Shorts Date & Venue TBA Tap into the collective unconscious of a rogue’s gallery of grifters, hermits, and sociopaths with our infamous showcase of gloriously confounding cinematic curios.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 12 May 2025
Everton’s first goal was the nadir for that curios theme of United’s display.
—Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
The owners of a Florida curio shop have been arrested for selling human remains on Facebook Marketplace, according to the Orange City Police Department.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
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Mealybugs can affect all types of crops, ornamentals, and houseplants, including succulents and cacti.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
31 July 2025
-
Powdery mildew is a common plant disease that affects ornamentals and edible crops, causing powdery splotches on plant leaves and stems.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 July 2025
Noun
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Walk through the quaint lobby to find another hidden gem, the Sax Garden, a romantic French-style garden restaurant, complete with a heated outdoor pool (a rarity in Paris), checkerboard marble floors and green foliage.—
Nicole Trilivas,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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This difficult position might explain why Putin’s grip over even his own loyal underlings is slipping as more economic officials speak out with warnings over the dire state of the economy—a rarity in Putin’s command and control system.—
Time,
Time,
9 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Home to local boutiques, specialty shops, and artisan galleries, this is the perfect place to find a souvenir to take home—and much more.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
6 Aug. 2025
-
The poem was a souvenir of the fleeting moment of its composition, its irregular right margin suggesting words jotted on scrap paper.—
Dan Chiasson,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Fewer exotics than past expansions, far fewer, in many instances.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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These are very tastefully laid off, with walks and carriage drives, and are covered with a profusion of rare exotics, beautiful flowers, and semi-tropical plants of every variety known to this climate.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
4 July 2025
Noun
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Researchers also suggest that focusing on the rewarding aspects of personal growth, togetherness and novelty can help couples find meaning and joy through this transition, regardless of who initiated it.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Instead, they were widely seen as a Swedish novelty act, a fad band, for decades.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Opposite the games, neon Pac-Man lights adorn the wall just above the bookcase, which holds dozens of books and other knickknacks reminiscent of the period.—
Lennie Omalza,
The Courier-Journal,
8 Aug. 2025
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Where To Shop On Hotz Avenue, Tribe Kelley Surf Post, owned by the wife-husband duo Brittney and Brian Kelley (who makes up one-half of the country duo Florida-Georgia Line), offers clothing, jewelry, and trendy knickknacks.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
3 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curio. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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