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
At her house in Harrison County, Theresa Brandenburg keeps a small wooden curio box.
—
Sarah Henry, The Courier-Journal, 8 July 2025
Plates and placemats, yellowed bed linens and napkins, glassware, curios, and sewing kits.
—Libby Buck
july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
Today, next to the cast of Callie’s foot is an urn with her ashes and a glass curio cabinet filled with mementos including baby shoes.
—Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Depending on where these curios are sold, they might also be referred to as Jenny Hanivers, garadiávolos or rayas chupacabras.
—Peter Kyne, The Conversation, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for curio
Sarah Henry, The Courier-Journal, 8 July 2025
Plates and placemats, yellowed bed linens and napkins, glassware, curios, and sewing kits.
—Libby Buck
july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
Today, next to the cast of Callie’s foot is an urn with her ashes and a glass curio cabinet filled with mementos including baby shoes.
—Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Depending on where these curios are sold, they might also be referred to as Jenny Hanivers, garadiávolos or rayas chupacabras.
—Peter Kyne, The Conversation, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
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Another garden mainstay, marigolds bloom from early summer through fall, and they're cherished as ornamentals as well as pest-repelling companion plants.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Aug. 2025
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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
Noun
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Antique furnishings and heirlooms from the Parker family’s time in the home give it character, yet the overall feel is fresh, welcoming, and refreshingly unfussy—a rarity among historic B&Bs.—
Jill Robbins,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
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Plus, there’s a rooftop pool, a rarity in the neighborhood.—
Kate Kassin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Parker Ashton-Youngs Longmont, CO Parker bought these earrings at the base of Kilimanjaro, proving that adventure souvenirs always make for stellar accessories.—
Matt Nager,
Outside,
1 Sep. 2025
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Buy a meaningful souvenir at Missions Pottery, where each piece is handcrafted by a local artisan, or Pig City Books, an independent bookstore with an expansive but well-curated selection.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Along with affordable exotics, young collectors are also paying up for supercars, especially rare and highly specific Paganis, Bugattis and Rufs, the boutique German builder.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
14 Aug. 2025
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All exotics should be considered New Gear.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Today, the practice has taken on a playful twist, with people reimagining themselves in royal attire for humor and novelty.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Anything that's made of fabric, whether furniture, clothing, décor, or novelty items, should be cleaned and stored according to professional standards.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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,
31 Aug. 2025
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Don’t fill your space with knickknacks from a one-stop shopping spree.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curio. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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