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
Here’s why March 30, 2025 12:00 AM Entertainment Historic photos show Hallmark’s growth to giant of cards, curios and entertainment
March 29, 2025 5:30 AM
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The Kansas City Star
J.M. Banks is The Star’s culture and identity reporter.
—
J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
Set in an emporium that buys and sells outlandish collectibles and other items, Curiosity will see celebrity guests visiting to find trinkets, curios and gifts from owners Bisram and Wehn.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2025
Opening on Valentine’s Day, Jacqueline Sullivan’s new show is all about cups: as cherished wedding gifts, antiques sitting in your grandmother’s curio cabinet, detritus at the garage sale, and collectibles reinvented by contemporary artists.
—Morgan Meier, Curbed, 12 Feb. 2025
The former became a cult curio; the latter remained unreleased until 2002.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curio
J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
Set in an emporium that buys and sells outlandish collectibles and other items, Curiosity will see celebrity guests visiting to find trinkets, curios and gifts from owners Bisram and Wehn.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2025
Opening on Valentine’s Day, Jacqueline Sullivan’s new show is all about cups: as cherished wedding gifts, antiques sitting in your grandmother’s curio cabinet, detritus at the garage sale, and collectibles reinvented by contemporary artists.
—Morgan Meier, Curbed, 12 Feb. 2025
The former became a cult curio; the latter remained unreleased until 2002.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
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Today, crabapple trees—tough ornamentals native to the Central Asian mountains—blanket Detroit.—
Sarah Durn,
Popular Science,
5 June 2025
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Many deciduous ornamentals including redbuds, forsythia, crabapples, fruit trees, quince azaleas and many others were not adversely affected by last summer’s drought and the cold, windy winter and frozen soils that followed.—
Pamm Cooper,
Hartford Courant,
10 May 2025
Noun
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While these instances are a rarity, the Burlington field office is equipped to facilitate a short-term stay when necessary.—
Ben Adler,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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Down 1-0 in the fifth with Crochet really dealing and Yankee hits a real rarity, Rojas has to send Dominguez home from second on LeMahieu’s single to right even though there were no outs.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
14 June 2025
Noun
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Back at the hotel, overnight guests have the opportunity to create original Kyushu souvenirs out of Hakata silk in master classes overseen by local artisans on the premises.—
Terry Elward,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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The final shot of Prey seemed to tease a big battle between the Comanches and the Predators, but perhaps those ships had merely arrived to spirit Naru (and her souvenir pistol) away.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Local and regional car clubs showcase more than 300 rare vehicles, from early collectibles to the latest exotics.—
Laura Daily,
Denver Post,
4 June 2025
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With one of the country’s best jockeys in the saddle and one of its most esteemed trainers behind her, don’t overlook her, especially underneath in vertical exotics. 4.—
Teresa Genaro,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Your brain learns from novelty, which promotes adaptive learning by resetting key brain circuits and enhances your ability to update new ideas into existing neurological frameworks.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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When children use this watch, texting their parents or sending emojis feels like a novelty, especially for first-time smartwatch users, and GPS tracking adds peace of mind for adults.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Tired of lining Instagram owner Mark Zuckerberg’s pockets without any return, Tapia recently spearheaded the work to open an accompanying online shop, the Los Feliz General Store, which sells shirts and knickknacks.—
Nate Rogers,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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The two small drawers are perfect for storing all of those out-the-door essentials and knickknacks, while the overall glamour of this piece would look right at home in an upscale apartment or quiet country home.—
Nora Taylor,
Architectural Digest,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curio. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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