1
as in ornamental
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest
be careful of the fragile curios on the end tables
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rarity
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest
a museum's collection of curios brought back from the Far East by 19th-century traders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of curio
This profile starts as a curio, but very quickly becomes fascinating.
—
Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Black Emperor—and Freedom, the record that crystallized McMahon’s songwriting and elevated Amen Dunes beyond its origins as a reliquary of underground curios.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024
Along one wall, a deep-brown curio cabinet full of tchotchkes and crystal is the resting place for Wells’ trove of speculative fiction awards.
—Meghan Herbst, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024
Yesterday’s Treasures sells an array of curios and ephemera, including local art, vintage postcards and old Provincetown publications.
—Brett Sokol, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for curio
Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Black Emperor—and Freedom, the record that crystallized McMahon’s songwriting and elevated Amen Dunes beyond its origins as a reliquary of underground curios.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024
Along one wall, a deep-brown curio cabinet full of tchotchkes and crystal is the resting place for Wells’ trove of speculative fiction awards.
—Meghan Herbst, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024
Yesterday’s Treasures sells an array of curios and ephemera, including local art, vintage postcards and old Provincetown publications.
—Brett Sokol, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
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Multipurpose nasturtiums can be grown for their edible flowers and leaves, or enjoyed as pollinator-friendly ornamentals.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Mar. 2025
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Otherwise, use of a fungicide labeled for rust control on ornamentals would be helpful.—
Tom MacCubbin,
Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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That different neural pathways with opposite valence for the same odor are combined to balance attraction and aversion based on physiological state is a rarity.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 Apr. 2025
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Now, with one daughter out of the house, gathering all five of us at the dinner table is a rarity.—
Rob Mank,
Christian Science Monitor,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Looking for some spooky souvenirs to bring back home?—
Samantha Neely,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
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On your drive, stop in the iconic Rain Barrell Village to buy kitschy souvenirs or handcrafted pieces from local artisans.—
Lisa A. Beach,
Southern Living,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Players will be delightfully challenged trying to box those three runners into workable exotics.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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The Future of Luxury Is American For decades, automotive status symbols have been dictated by a European vision of luxury: low-slung exotics that demand pristine roads and attract as much attention as possible.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Many novelty ice trays have unique shapes such as hearts, cats and stars to delight any dinner party guest.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2025
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The hot dog cannon is no longer just a jumbo-sized novelty gag.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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If a book doesn’t catch your eye, a knickknack probably will.—
Brianna Taylor,
Sacramento Bee,
14 Mar. 2025
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For a piece in this week’s issue, Helfand speaks with all parties involved, and even visits Elvis in his current resting place, amid dusty knickknacks and towering piles of junk in an office behind a mechanic’s garage.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
The New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curio. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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