costume 1 of 3

1
as in dress
clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation a tuxedo is the only acceptable costume for men attending a formal event

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2
as in mask
clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else Halloween costumes that caricature some of the "celebrities" created by the media over the past year

Synonyms & Similar Words

costume

2 of 3

verb

costume

3 of 3

adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of costume
Noun
From Sam Yates’ direction to Laura Bellingham’s cinematography to Charlotte Mitchell’s costume design, Towards Zero is a feast for the eyes. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 18 Apr. 2025 Hire a really good costume designer and a really good art department. H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
Beyond choreography, students take charge in areas such as costuming, leading rehearsals, staging and vocals. Ainsley Northrop, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025 First 1883, also costumed by Janie Bryant, and then 1923, which is now in its second season. Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
All of the wardrobe was designed at the costume office near the set in Iqaluit. Dana Feldman, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 Shop our favorites and get some costume inspiration below. Lauryn Jiles, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for costume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costume
Noun
  • From stylish hats to fashionable fascinators, the tradition dates back to the Derby’s earliest days when full morning dress was required of attendees, which at the time meant proper headwear for women.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Wearing look 14, Lipa donned a black body-conscious maxi dress rendered in a sheer, textured fabric.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This 7-pack comes with simple-to-use sheet masks made with natural ingredients to keep skin feeling soft and calm.
    Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Allure commerce editor Sarah Han is a fan of this overnight mask.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The attackers — both clad in black and wearing blue surgical masks — sped off in a gray Nissan sedan with West Virginia tags.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The alleged assassin, clad in khaki prison garb, entered the plea in federal court in New York on Friday, April 25.
    Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Newsweek was given the unique opportunity to design a camouflage wrap for a brand-new vehicle—not just to disguise specific features underneath, but to also show off a brand-new electric truck to the public for the first time.
    Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
  • What to look for in a quality bow release Color scheme Some bow releases feature a camouflage design, while others may be black, orange or chrome.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The White House posted photos of the president dressed in golfing attire the previous evening while watching U.S. forces hit Houthis rebels in Yemen who’ve been targeting Israeli and U.S. vessels in the Red Sea.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025
  • In a portrait that is emblematic of her art, Gottfried photographed a circus entertainer dressed in a top hat and white tie, accompanied by his two canine partners, also formally attired, the large Doberman pinscher in a white tie and a turban, the miniature pinscher with a frilly collar.
    Arthur Lubow, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • This pair feels more fashion compared to your typical bright summer whites, and makes for a dressy jean option for all year round.
    Madeline Fass, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2025
  • This casual tee gets a dressy vibe, thanks to said puff sleeves, and the slim fit can be worn tucked into wide-leg jeans or untucked over a midi skirt.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Listen to this article A trio of troublemakers sped through Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in a white car shooting pellet guns and gel guns at people dressed in traditional Hasidic Jewish garb, hitting at least seven persons over a two-day possible hate crime spree, a police source said.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Wearing such garb as a form of peaceful protest is constitutionally protected free speech.
    Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Cybercriminals Cyber threat opportunism takes many guises, from ransomware actors leveraging media interest in Elon Musk and DOGE to launch a trillion-dollar attack, to physical attackers using shoulder-surfing techniques to steal your phone and access the data contained within.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Leavitt uses the individual stories to showcase Ukrainian resilience and resistance—themes that appear in many guises, including grassroots relief efforts.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Costume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costume. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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