curiosities

noun

plural of curiosity
1
as in rarities
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest the museum's curiosities include items constructed entirely out of toothpicks

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2
as in ornamentals
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest an assortment of curiosities from around the world that the family picked up during various vacations

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3
as in tricks
an odd or peculiar habit Charles Dickens typically endowed his characters with an array of endearing curiosities

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 curiosities His Lost Lautner is a cabinet of curiosities reflecting his and Bauwens’s hyper-peculiar interests. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026 The eclectic spa is filled with curiosities and antiquities, and the food is chef-driven but not fussy, with dishes such as steak frites and salmon. — Jill Robbins, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2026 Stitched together, these scenes form a meandering narrative that responds to Wilson’s own proclaimed curiosities, but also apertures onto thornier and more existential topics. — Lila Allen, Architectural Digest, 18 Sep. 2026 Walls were chockablock with curiosities, including antique herbaria and majolica pottery. — Jody Garlock, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026 The Lucas Museum has a cabinet of curiosities, the crown jewels of which are production pieces from Star Wars and other fortune-making IP that made this venture possible. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026 Although at first dismissed as mere curiosities, WHEEP-3’s criticisms of the AI industry became widely disseminated when Tran published a collection of them in a book, Principal Components of Artifice, an instant bestseller. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026 Yi offers her readers a dazzling cabinet of curiosities, exploring spirituality, desire and the desperate ways people grasp at each other. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 When Lake Mead last plunged to record-low water levels in 2022, its dramatically receding shoreline revealed all manner of curiosities. — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curiosities
  1. rarities
  2. ornamentals
  3. tricks
  4. novelties
  5. traits
  6. souvenirs
  7. characteristics
  8. ornaments
Noun
  • The chef, known for his exceptional dishes at Le Bernardin, has an equally remarkable watch collection to match—think rarities from brands such as Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, and Cartier.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026
  • With price tags far beyond the reach of the average museum, many of these rarities end up in private collections, including those of celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe.
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of rarities
Noun
  • Late-Modern architect focuses on a sleek design with minimal ornamentals.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2026
  • While this group of pathogens has an extensive range of hosts, it is often observed on woody ornamentals—viburnum or rhododendron, for example—and trees like dogwood or maple.
    — Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of ornamentals
Noun
  • Ahead, moving-industry insiders reveal their tricks of the trade to make moving so much better.
    — Perri Ormont Blumberg, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
  • For most of history, locksmiths and lockmakers have guarded their secrets as closely as magicians withhold their tricks.
    — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of tricks
Noun
  • Geneva Watch Days ran ahead like clockwork from September 2 to 6, with at least a dozen novelties introduced across the five-day affair.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Founded in 2019, Whatnot built its audience on novelties and collectibles.
    — Ryan Baker, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of novelties
Noun
  • The PGCs will then be rewritten to add dodo traits, in the same way the gray wolf was edited.
    — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Were the traits that people value – and their underlying mutations – already present in the wild?
    — Ornob Alam, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of traits
Noun
  • The heart of this town is a neat grid of small roads, lined with shops selling tours and safari trips amid a jumble of souvenirs and handicrafts, alongside a smattering of local eateries.
    — Charukesi Ramadurai, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The entrance and exits of Prambanan are also cluttered with vendors selling souvenirs and cold drinks — offering a good opportunity to pick up a bottle of water.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of souvenirs
Noun
  • The challenge is to innovate without abandoning the characteristics customers recognize and appreciate.
    — Chris Hardesty, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The fighter jet integrates low-observable stealth characteristics with advanced sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, and networked information sharing.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of characteristics
Noun
  • Weighing around four pounds, the six by four foot penacho previously featured several sections of different colored feathers along with gold ornaments on a net held in place by slim wooden rods.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The image could be found on T-shirts, hats, billboards, beer bottles, Christmas ornaments and even adorned the cover of several books written about the championship season.
    — Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of ornaments

Browse Nearby Words

curiosa
curiosities
curiosity
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Cite this Entry

“Curiosities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curiosities. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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