COSTUMES Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

costumes 1 of 2

noun

plural of costume

as in dresses

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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as in masks

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

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costumes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of costume

as in clothes

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

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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 costumes

Noun

With thousands of costumes in its inventory, the mansion opened its second and third stories to the public. — Emma Hall july 6, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026 Beyond the absurdly catchy music and the rom-com story, part of the show’s joyfulness comes from its colorful costumes and beachy aesthetic. — Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Some marchers wore colonial attire, inflatable bald eagle costumes or dressed up as the Statue of Liberty. — Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2026 This airy maxi dress bears a striking resemblance to the one Karen Allen wore in Raiders of the Lost Ark, which just happens to be one of my favorite movie costumes of all time. — Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 Their third-ever gig was at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn on Halloween 2019, which inspired Pinkerton to create costumes for the band. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 29 June 2026 Soon thereafter, Vaccarello produced and designed the costumes in Strange Way of Life, starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026 Meanwhile Karl Lagerfeld designed exquisite Weimar Kabaret-ish costumes (these ultimately proved too fragile to attach Madonna's monitoring system to. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026 Thousands of people attend the festivities, during which villagers wearing 18th-century period costumes reenact the 1781 Siege of Pensacola, a turning point in the American Revolution. — Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026

Verb

The room houses costumes for performances for the entire year, and there are about 40 years of costumes in the room. — Najahe Sherman, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025 To make that medicine go down easier, RAYE costumes her fatalism in a baroque maximalism. — Boutayna Chokrane, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026 The company brought its famous mascot — the beloved Morton Salt Girl, who every year inspires who knows how many Halloween costumes. — Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2025 The same girls who’d posted winking pop-culture-reference couples Halloween costumes a few years ago were now posting their toddlers in their own pop-culture-reference costumes. — Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026 Here are five tips for creating last-minute DIY KPop Demon Hunters Halloween costumes. — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion. — Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026 Those costumes from the original Broadway production, including the Schuyler sisters’ winter ball gowns, Hamilton, Jefferson and Burr’s suits, as well as King George’s outfit, are all featured among the exhibit, too. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025 Stewart recounted New York’s enthusiastic reaction to the Knicks winning, including the appearance of multiple Spider-Man costumes, a dancing MTA bus driver, and a drum line. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for costumes

Noun

In 2021, Jeremy Scott made a series of tailored potato sack dresses for Moschino, woven from a linen blend that resembled burlap.

— Faran Krentcil, InStyle, 1 July 2026
Keep a handful near your washing machine or drying rack for blouses, dresses, workout wear, or delicate pieces that should skip the dryer.

— Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2026

Definition of dresses

Noun

Sketches were drawn, 3D masks printed and footballs blasted at a prototype sitting on a lifesize headform modelled on Kylian Mbappe’s face.

— Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Manucurist formulates its masks with panthenol, a form of vitamin B5, to hydrate and strengthen dry nails over time, reducing breakage.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 4 July 2026

Definition of masks

Noun

Heavy fabrics, clingy materials, and tight silhouettes only make hot days feel even hotter — but light, breezy dresses make cool and easy outfits.

— Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
But if and when that dress turns out to be just one of the outfits for a documentary that goes to the highest bidder, the wedding good vibes will curdle just a little.

— Choire Sicha, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Definition of outfits

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costumery

costumes

costumey

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“Costumes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costumes. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of costumes

noun

verb

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