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
This profile starts as a curio, but very quickly becomes fascinating.
—
Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Black Emperor—and Freedom, the record that crystallized McMahon’s songwriting and elevated Amen Dunes beyond its origins as a reliquary of underground curios.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024
Along one wall, a deep-brown curio cabinet full of tchotchkes and crystal is the resting place for Wells’ trove of speculative fiction awards.
—Meghan Herbst, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024
Yesterday’s Treasures sells an array of curios and ephemera, including local art, vintage postcards and old Provincetown publications.
—Brett Sokol, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for curio
Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Black Emperor—and Freedom, the record that crystallized McMahon’s songwriting and elevated Amen Dunes beyond its origins as a reliquary of underground curios.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024
Along one wall, a deep-brown curio cabinet full of tchotchkes and crystal is the resting place for Wells’ trove of speculative fiction awards.
—Meghan Herbst, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024
Yesterday’s Treasures sells an array of curios and ephemera, including local art, vintage postcards and old Provincetown publications.
—Brett Sokol, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
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Companion plants for ornamentals such as hydrangeas are selected for aesthetic purposes.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2025
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Multipurpose nasturtiums can be grown for their edible flowers and leaves, or enjoyed as pollinator-friendly ornamentals.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Pulled from recording sessions that took place across a pivotal four-year period, the collection highlights rarities, alternate versions, and deep cuts that hardcore fans will appreciate.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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These slides checked all the boxes: sleek, waterproof, comfortable, and supportive—an absolute rarity in the sandal world.—
Samantha Leal,
StyleCaster,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Make your own perfume For a truly authentic Bermudian souvenir, stop by the Lili Bermuda Perfumery to create a custom scent or shop their line of handcrafted fragrances inspired by island botanicals.—
Skye Sherman,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2025
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Universal’s new park has the rare opportunity to model that future — building an experience where every corner, every bite, and every souvenir carries the wonder and storytelling power that defines truly great leisure destinations.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Eschewing runways for a closed public road, the annual Sun Valley Tour de Force, next taking place July 17 through 19 in Ketchum, Idaho, allows enthusiasts to test the limits of their own exotics, such as the owner of a Bugatti Chiron who reached 253.01 mph on a previous edition’s 3.2-mile stretch.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
13 Apr. 2025
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The fish species are in constant flux, and this location is often dominated by exotics.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Breton’s victory can partially be attributed to the relative novelty of his project (which transplanted Freud from the clinic to the gallery), in contrast to Goll’s vaguer claims to radical change.—
Jonathon Keats,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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Cast at center the majority of his career, the 3-pointer largely was novelty, as can be the case with many centers.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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If that’s true, then sure, waste wall space in your kitchen for knickknacks.—
Sherry Kuehl,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2025
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This backpack's interior is nicely organized with pen holders, a mesh pocket, and a few other slots for your knickknacks, plus a padded section for a 16-inch laptop.—
Adrienne So,
WIRED,
13 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curio. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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