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
To the presentation of personal items, all culled from the trove of clothing and ephemera (photos, letters, books) that Talley bequeathed to SCAD in 2022, Gomes has added some of the gifts to the school’s permanent collection that the style arbiter coaxed out of his designer friends.
—
Amy Fine Collins, Air Mail, 28 Mar. 2026
Though learning the variations between Filipino and American play was easy, new to Nguyen was the ephemera of American-style play.
—Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
Madsen’s Denver home began filling with books, letters, autographs and ephemera involving Twain.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
In a similar spirit of upcycling, his exhibition shows Rose Salane’s newest project from Pompeii featuring rocks and other ephemera taken from the historic site.
—Tyler Matthew Oyer
feb. 27, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ephemera
Amy Fine Collins, Air Mail, 28 Mar. 2026
Though learning the variations between Filipino and American play was easy, new to Nguyen was the ephemera of American-style play.
—Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
Madsen’s Denver home began filling with books, letters, autographs and ephemera involving Twain.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
In a similar spirit of upcycling, his exhibition shows Rose Salane’s newest project from Pompeii featuring rocks and other ephemera taken from the historic site.
—Tyler Matthew Oyer
feb. 27, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ephemera
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ephemera
Noun
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The list includes coveted exotics, like the Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM, along with some unexpected names, like the Toyota Rav4 EV short-wheelbase prototype.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
3 Mar. 2026
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These results further reinforced the depth of demand across both European exotics and culturally significant collector cars.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Penguins entered this game having not played for three straight days, a rarity this time of year.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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And these days, any kind of rarity in a revival is worthy savoring.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Ephemera.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ephemera. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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