as in curiosa
things that are important or useful for only a short time; items that were not meant to have lasting value
—usually plural
He has a large collection of old menus and other ephemera.
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Recent Examples of ephemera
Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince excavating aesthetics and the American psyche with fifty-plus works appropriating, inverting, and referencing pop cultural ephemera from movies to social media posts.
—
Erica Firpo, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
The collection includes handwritten lyrics, personal letters, photographs, books and other ephemera, many of which haven’t been shown publicly.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 7 May 2026
The fourth and final sale includes literature, memorabilia, and personal ephemera.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2026
Finally, Chapters of an Edited Life, running from June 1 to June 11, will present a collection of the First Wives Club star’s personal art, books, and ephemera, including handwritten letters and scripts.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ephemera
Erica Firpo, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
The collection includes handwritten lyrics, personal letters, photographs, books and other ephemera, many of which haven’t been shown publicly.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 7 May 2026
The fourth and final sale includes literature, memorabilia, and personal ephemera.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2026
Finally, Chapters of an Edited Life, running from June 1 to June 11, will present a collection of the First Wives Club star’s personal art, books, and ephemera, including handwritten letters and scripts.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ephemera
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ephemera
Noun
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At least the pedals aren’t awkwardly offset, unlike many Italian exotics of this era.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
18 May 2026
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Here are my picks and exotics for the 2026 Kentucky Oaks. 2026 Kentucky Oaks Day Betting Card Race 8: $5 to Win on #2 French Fiction. Race 9: $5 to Win and Place on #8 Corporate Power ($10 total bet).—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Millions of Americans treated college not as a rarity, but as a natural stepping stone into the world of cubicles and six-figure salaries.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
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But the Lamborghini Miura may be ultimate finger on the pulse, not just for its heritage or rarity, but for its democratization.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
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Their efforts coincided with the advent of motoring vacations in the United States and iconic roadside services like diners, motor lodges, service stations and curio shops.—
Joe Yogerst,
CNN Money,
27 May 2026
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Perfume bottles, empty picture frames, and books arranged by color turn shelves and desks into the curio cabinets of an eclectic collector.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ephemera.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ephemera. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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