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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of curios
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curios
Noun
-
Companion plants for ornamentals such as hydrangeas are selected for aesthetic purposes.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Mellano raises flowers, succulents and ornamentals on hundreds of acres in South Morro Hills.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The shows are pegged to a new compilation of rarities and fan favorites called From a Hole in the Floor to a Fountain of Youth.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The hip-hop mogul obviously has no shortage of rarities to showcase, with his collection now estimated to be worth several million.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Small and ominous-looking, the plants are commonly sold as novelties, and many a curious child (or adult) has triggered its sinister traps with a pencil to see its amazingly rapid response.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The 66 luxury watchmakers participating in the seven-day event are reserving all their new novelties for Geneva, after all.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After Anthropic accidentally leaked the source code to its blockbuster Claude chatbot, netizens swiftly pounced to start plowing through its more than 512,000 lines of code — and have uncovered numerous curiosities sprinkled throughout.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Transit often takes me outside of myself, offering new forms, curiosities, psychogeographies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Signs along Main Street advertise shops like WomanMade Products and hawk souvenirs.—
Beverly Gage,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Unlike the recently popular minimalist styles, real home decorating reflects memories, travel, and family—knickknacks, photographs, souvenirs, and heirlooms are embraced and incorporated.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These adorable multicolor glasses look like they’re inspired by spring garden ornaments.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to carrying her own creations in the 800-square-foot storefront, Wolfer’s inventory includes handmade quilts, greeting cards, oyster shell ornaments and photography on display.—
Sarah Kyrcz,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These kinds of trinkets were not particularly surprising to me.—
Magdalena Stawkowski,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
-
But for UConn, those may be future eBay trinkets.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
