1
as in clothes
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
as in to dress
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes
the days when people, costumed in their Sunday best, would parade along the grand avenue on Easter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dress
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of costume
The Deadline Team, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025
The many costume changes resulted in a lengthier shoot than usual.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2025
Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 13 Sep. 2025
Some noted that a Halloween costume worn by Robinson closely resembled a Groyer mascot, and that the Bella Ciao song appeared on a recent public Groyper playlist.
—Richard Hall, Time, 13 Sep. 2025
Marina Watts, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Hell, let Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer don the Marty and Bobbi Culp costumes again to rep the SNL 50 Homecoming Concert.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for costume
Noun
The panel conversations will include actors, casting directors, cinematographers, composers, costume designers, directors, editors, hair stylists, makeup artists, producers, production designers, prosthetics designers, visual effects producers, and writers.
—The Deadline Team, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025
The many costume changes resulted in a lengthier shoot than usual.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
For the first time, fans can get up close to huge numbers of Bowie's treasures, from his groundbreaking costumes to his favourite instruments.
—Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 13 Sep. 2025
Some noted that a Halloween costume worn by Robinson closely resembled a Groyer mascot, and that the Bella Ciao song appeared on a recent public Groyper playlist.
—Richard Hall, Time, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Swift previously released the album variants, the Dazzling Shiny Bug Vinyl Collection and Baby, That's Show Business Vinyl Collection, with glamorous photos and costuming.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Hell, let Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer don the Marty and Bobbi Culp costumes again to rep the SNL 50 Homecoming Concert.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for costume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costume
Noun
-
There were chiffon dresses that gave a nod to the 1920s with their drop waists.—
Blue Carreon,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The corset acted as a base for the black fabric of the dress.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And when the hydration from masks, oils, and butters isn’t cutting it, there’s steaming, something curly hair girls already know very well, says Kiana Rae Brown, a curly hair specialist and owner of West Coast Curls Salon in Los Angeles.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Hortman and her husband, Mark, were allegedly assassinated by Vance Boelter, who dressed as a police officer with a realistic silicone mask, at their home in the early hours of June 14.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
My 8-year-old big sister, Lisa, clothed in her first communion dress and veil, her treasured rosary draped in her hands, lay motionless and cold amid the white silken lining, her head upon a white satin pillow.—
Patti Newton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Fans began cheering as soon as the guitar riffs started, and sang every word of Dua’s cover of the 1978 track with her and her band, all clad in black.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
His image was captured on a trail camera mounted in the driveway, attired in camouflage, an AR-15-style semiautomatic assault rifle strapped to his chest.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The man was captured on a trail camera wearing camouflage with an AR-15-style rifle slung across his chest, according to the affidavit.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ellen returns to Beltane and dons her May Queen attire and performs her duties alongside Malcolm at the fire ceremony.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The authors propose a new model that places attire alongside the face, body, context and viewer traits, revealing that dress influences judgments of social identity, mental state, status and aesthetic taste.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The pointed toe box is dressy while offering a small amount of coverage, which is great for temperature dips to come.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The 45-look lineup capitalized on American sportswear and clothing that could easily take the woman from day through a dressy evening.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
He is dressed in native garb and has feathers on the back of his head.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Each year, third-graders from around the San Ramon Valley get decked out in pioneer garb and pay a visit to the schoolhouse.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
All this reintroduces the problem of arbitrary outcomes, in a different guise.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Unfortunately a recent deep fake has come in the guise of a friend.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Costume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costume. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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