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
The decor is worldly and bohemian with playful wallpaper, opulent rugs, bold pops of color, and curios.
—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Lots of other pre-war features to like, such as the archways and the inset curio-cabinet.
—
Katie McDonough,
Curbed,
4 May 2026
The song is a dynamic curio and begs the question of what could have been if Ifans hadn’t left the band.
—
David Harris,
SPIN,
4 May 2026
Henry’s record-setting 20 assists are a unique curio.
—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for curio
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Lots of other pre-war features to like, such as the archways and the inset curio-cabinet.
—
Katie McDonough,
Curbed,
4 May 2026
The song is a dynamic curio and begs the question of what could have been if Ifans hadn’t left the band.
—
David Harris,
SPIN,
4 May 2026
Henry’s record-setting 20 assists are a unique curio.
—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
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While the company has changed its product over the years, from produce to ornamentals, he's always grown to serve his local community.
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The plant was a Japanese yew, an ornamental that is toxic and deadly to horses, according to the report.
Noun
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Alex Bell, chairman emeritus of Sotheby’s UK and Old Masters worldwide, said the work succeeded because it combined scale, rarity, impeccable provenance, and immediate visual impact.
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Amsterdam was largely laid out in the 17th century, making new land available for gardens a rarity.
Noun
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Buyers pounced anyway, including a Chinese billionaire, Justin Sun, who spent $75 million on the tokens and $200 million on the souvenir coins.
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In the 1890s, Henry Flagler’s crews leveled a massive burial mound to build his Royal Palm hotel across the river, selling skulls as souvenirs and dumping the rest of the human remains into a sinkhole, never since found.
Noun
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The Guardian skill track turns players into a tanky frontline anchor with proximity revives, while the exotics Defrag and Cryoshear join the arsenal.
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At least the pedals aren’t awkwardly offset, unlike many Italian exotics of this era.
Noun
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But rental business owners like Zhao observed that the rental prices have begun to slide as novelty surrounding these stunt-performing androids fades.
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And the expansive format would be a particular novelty for the Kansas City area, where the spectacle of hosting six matches (and ultimately four base camps) would loom largest overlaid on the smallest of the sites.
Noun
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But so can characters pushing the knickknack/plaything boundary, like porcelain figurines and piggy banks.
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A lot of those people have Victoria Baumann and Charlie Moreton to thank, the father-daughter duo behind Victoria Essie Studio that produces fidget toys and other knickknacks out of their homes in North Carolina.
Cite this Entry
“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curio. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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