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
For the most part, the resource library is centered on Japanese ephemera, more focused on design than fashion — there are books on typography, photography, textiles, and ceramics along with architecture magazines, museum-exhibition catalogues, and advertising manuals.
—
Emma Orlow, Curbed, 19 Dec. 2025
As a classics student at Harvard, Thoreau was no doubt familiar with the ancient Roman ephemera of Ptolemy—charts tracking the movement of astronomical objects over time.
—Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
These ornaments were handmade by an artist named Inez Mortensen, who used vintage paper and other ephemera.
—Tamara Shopsin, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2025
In Atlanta, the SCAD FASH exhibition features some 75 looks, including ephemera from André’s home and rare archival photographs — arranged in a triptych of time and tone of red, white and black.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ephemera
Emma Orlow, Curbed, 19 Dec. 2025
As a classics student at Harvard, Thoreau was no doubt familiar with the ancient Roman ephemera of Ptolemy—charts tracking the movement of astronomical objects over time.
—Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
These ornaments were handmade by an artist named Inez Mortensen, who used vintage paper and other ephemera.
—Tamara Shopsin, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2025
In Atlanta, the SCAD FASH exhibition features some 75 looks, including ephemera from André’s home and rare archival photographs — arranged in a triptych of time and tone of red, white and black.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ephemera
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ephemera
Noun
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Picky types should note that this car exhibits build quality unknown in previous Lamborghinis, which, like so many Italian and British exotics of the 20th century, have shown marginal attention to details, large and small.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
21 Nov. 2025
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Native to Brazil and other South American and Central American countries, colorful peacock bass were stocked in South Florida canals in the mid-1980s by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to control the population of undesirable exotics like tilapia.—
Steve Waters,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Andermatt is also considered one of the most snow-sure destinations in the Alps—storms tend to stack up here, snow quality holds for weeks, and the season often stretches well into April, a growing rarity in Europe as lower-elevation resorts grapple with warming winters.—
Bailey Berg,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Jan. 2026
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What makes the mission's remains so special is their rarity.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The result is a faintly comic curio that hurtles along without much impact.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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Consider a curio cabinet or shadow box to highlight sentimental items in an organized manner.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ephemera.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ephemera. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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