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
The song is a dynamic curio and begs the question of what could have been if Ifans hadn’t left the band.
—
David Harris, SPIN, 4 May 2026
Henry’s record-setting 20 assists are a unique curio.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Conscription and extensive civil defense shelters, now historical curios in much of the West, remain bedrock elements of Finnish defense.
—Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, admirers, colleagues and gallery workers have sent her curios from New Mexico, Tennessee, New England and beyond.
—Leigh-Ann Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for curio
David Harris, SPIN, 4 May 2026
Henry’s record-setting 20 assists are a unique curio.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Conscription and extensive civil defense shelters, now historical curios in much of the West, remain bedrock elements of Finnish defense.
—Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, admirers, colleagues and gallery workers have sent her curios from New Mexico, Tennessee, New England and beyond.
—Leigh-Ann Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
-
This substance, aptly named powdery mildew, is a common fungus that affects an array of ornamentals, vegetables, and herbs.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
31 May 2026
-
This can look like letting your grass grow a little longer, swapping out non-native ornamentals for native plants, and keeping gardens as organic as possible.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Already a rarity, this particular S-Type also has the distinction of being owned by Academy Award–winning actor Peter Ustinov before it was primarily parked at the National Motor Museum in England for more than five decades.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Greenlighting a project like this— a romantic comedy based off of an original spec script—seems like such a rarity nowadays.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
10 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The olive oil bottles make for great gifts and souvenirs, so pick up a few to take home with you.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
-
The pub's merchandise, and its commemorative souvenir pint glasses in particular, have become almost as iconic as the destination itself.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
European exotics were also present.—
Keenan Thompson,
Freep.com,
23 Sep. 2025
-
This has created situations like this season putting a bunch of solar buffs in the artifact, but not allowing all solar exotics to be used without penalty.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Many signs suggest that what people want from him is the novelty value of a president’s son mud wrestling on social media, rather than anything more substantive.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2026
-
The only narrative novelty is how audaciously cruel the movie is to kids.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Portland artist Maggie Rudy has a knack for knickknacks.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
6 Dec. 2025
-
Among the totems, knickknacks, and ephemera in Will Shortz’s home-cum-museum, and one of his favorite items, is a copy of the 1924 book inscribed by Dick Simon and Max Schuster, sent to its source of inspiration.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curio. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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