1
as in ornamentals
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 rarities
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 curios
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
Other items will also be available, such as jewelry, curios, knick-knacks, puzzles and more.
—Andrea Manes, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
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
Frankenstein was even part of the dark ’n’ gritty action-horror hybrid trend of the 2010s, bringing us weird curios like Frankenstein’s Army (2013) and I, Frankenstein (2014).
—Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Made in Ancient Egypt, which opened this month at Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum, features commemorative stela, golden coffins and masks, and sundry curios created in a style that changed very little down the centuries.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
But more and more, Black List darlings wind up as buzzy Netflix curios like They Cloned Tyrone and May December.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
The business, which also includes a restaurant and a gift shop filled with Native American jewelry and other curios, largely depends on visitors to the national park.
—Ryan Heinsius, NPR, 22 Sep. 2025
Robotaxi tests began there in 2023, and the company started offering demo rides to curios spectators at Resorts World in late July.
—Salvador Rodriguez,annie Palmer, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Leigh-Ann Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Other items will also be available, such as jewelry, curios, knick-knacks, puzzles and more.
—Andrea Manes, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
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
Frankenstein was even part of the dark ’n’ gritty action-horror hybrid trend of the 2010s, bringing us weird curios like Frankenstein’s Army (2013) and I, Frankenstein (2014).
—Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Made in Ancient Egypt, which opened this month at Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum, features commemorative stela, golden coffins and masks, and sundry curios created in a style that changed very little down the centuries.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
But more and more, Black List darlings wind up as buzzy Netflix curios like They Cloned Tyrone and May December.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
The business, which also includes a restaurant and a gift shop filled with Native American jewelry and other curios, largely depends on visitors to the national park.
—Ryan Heinsius, NPR, 22 Sep. 2025
Robotaxi tests began there in 2023, and the company started offering demo rides to curios spectators at Resorts World in late July.
—Salvador Rodriguez,annie Palmer, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curios
Noun
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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
-
Opting for native plants over exotic ornamentals is more practical and beneficial.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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On the home front, several generations have grown up on an American mainland without malaria, yellow fever, or typhoid fever; diseases like dysentery are medical rarities.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
-
After putting out Hug of Thunder, one of the best rock albums of that year, Broken Social Scene rolled out their 2019 Let’s Try the After EPs in two volumes, as well as a collection of B-sides and rarities called Old Dead Young in 2022.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Best Shopping Desert General Store Zuchowicki and his wife Françoise Lazard curate a selection of clothing, jewelry, souvenirs, novelties, and books at Desert General Store, importing items from around the world.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Feb. 2026
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Sumo is both sport and spectacle, a pageantry of difference celebrating novelties like Ozora Buzaemon, who competed in just one tournament in March 1827 but became a national sensation owing to his extraordinary height of more than seven feet.—
Joshua Hunt,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This is Amused Bouche, SAVEUR’s food questionnaire that explores the culinary curiosities of some of our favorite people.—
Alyse Whitney,
Saveur,
26 Feb. 2026
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The interiors are colorful and layered, with patterned wallpaper, statement carpeting, bold tile, and shelves dotted with curiosities that reward a second (and third) look.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In fact, Hilton’s 2026 trend report says that 77% of travelers enjoy going down the aisles of local grocery stores to get a taste of local food and drink, plus bring some souvenirs home with them.—
Megan duBois,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2026
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Private is the mystery incandescence of her nacre, coveting which the likes of us killed her ancestors to make buttons, souvenirs, entire garments for ritual dancers who sought to banish their demons with her magical inner light.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There were no ornaments, no photos, no paintings.—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
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Putting up the Christmas tree last year with ornaments Ryan and his sister made was tough, Gary said.—
Emma Hurt,
AJC.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The black curtains go up, trinkets are removed, mirrors are covered, and John and Francesca’s portrait is veiled.—
Christina Grace Tucker,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
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Notepads and trinkets, curious vintage-y things with animals or interesting patterns, strange candles.—
Leigh-Ann Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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,
11 Feb. 2026
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Displaying books, plants, and knickknacks in your office looks extra stylish with this set of four wall cubbies; the top of each cubby offers extra open space to store even more items.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curios.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curios. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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