variants
or less commonly nicknack
plural knickknacks also nicknacks
: a small trivial article usually intended for ornament
a collection of colorful knickknacks
Known in the computer industry as tchotchkes, which is Yiddish for cheap trinkets, the knickknacks distributed in the past year have included "Love Me Tender" toilet-roll dispensers, wax eyeballs, chocolate computers and Nerf-ball launchers.—
Jim Carlton
Jim CarltonMelissa Etheridge's spacious two-story home outside Los Angeles is filled with knickknacks from her life: Aside from awards and photos, there is a small collection of vintage neon clocks … and a Thelma & Louise poster signed by the cast (including a then-unknown Brad Pitt).—Lynette Rice
Lynette RiceExamples of knickknack in a Sentence
The shelves were filled with knickknacks.
a variety of pretty porcelain knickknacks adorned the mantel
Recent Examples on the Web
Don’t fill your space with knickknacks from a one-stop shopping spree.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
It’s filled with racks of clothes, art and dinosaur knickknacks.
—Lia Picard, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Within the complete box set are 15 CDs of demos, rarities, outtakes, alternate versions, and three full live albums; a 128-page book; four DVDs including concert, studio, and TV footage; and various merch knickknacks, along with the remastered album on a double-LP.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2025
If that’s true, then sure, waste wall space in your kitchen for knickknacks.
—Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knickknack
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Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
It’s filled with racks of clothes, art and dinosaur knickknacks.
—Lia Picard, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Within the complete box set are 15 CDs of demos, rarities, outtakes, alternate versions, and three full live albums; a 128-page book; four DVDs including concert, studio, and TV footage; and various merch knickknacks, along with the remastered album on a double-LP.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2025
If that’s true, then sure, waste wall space in your kitchen for knickknacks.
—Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knickknack
Cite this Entry
“Knickknack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knickknack. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
knickknack
noun
knick·knack
ˈnik-ˌnak 
: a small ornamental object
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