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
Relevance
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
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 curio
Other items will also be available, such as jewelry, curios, knick-knacks, puzzles and more.
—
Andrea Manes, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
Consider a curio cabinet or shadow box to highlight sentimental items in an organized manner.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2025
Hamnet is a somber watch, much more nakedly sentimental and weepy than Zhao’s other films (including the wonderful neo-Western The Rider, the Oscar-winning drama Nomadland, and the Marvel curio Eternals).
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2025
Advertisement While most fish-out-of-water stories are keen to highlight the strangeness of the world in which the protagonist has embedded themselves, Rental Family treats the curios of Japanese culture with the utmost respect and a naturalistic approach.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curio
Andrea Manes, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
Consider a curio cabinet or shadow box to highlight sentimental items in an organized manner.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2025
Hamnet is a somber watch, much more nakedly sentimental and weepy than Zhao’s other films (including the wonderful neo-Western The Rider, the Oscar-winning drama Nomadland, and the Marvel curio Eternals).
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2025
Advertisement While most fish-out-of-water stories are keen to highlight the strangeness of the world in which the protagonist has embedded themselves, Rental Family treats the curios of Japanese culture with the utmost respect and a naturalistic approach.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
-
Mellano raises flowers, succulents and ornamentals on hundreds of acres in South Morro Hills.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
To get the most benefits from DE, read our simple application tips for vegetables, herbs, ornamentals, and houseplants.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Consequently, while the consideration of parental gun behaviors is not entirely absent from custody decisions, its relative rarity suggests a deliberate unwillingness to link them with parental fitness considerations.—
Marcia Zug,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Which brings us to the math rarity.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Signs along Main Street advertise shops like WomanMade Products and hawk souvenirs.—
Beverly Gage,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Many programs and coaches are judged by the number of Final Four appearances, where teams are presented with watches as a memento and, at Indianapolis, souvenir racecar helmets.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The list includes coveted exotics, like the Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM, along with some unexpected names, like the Toyota Rav4 EV short-wheelbase prototype.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
3 Mar. 2026
-
These results further reinforced the depth of demand across both European exotics and culturally significant collector cars.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Although embedded in spectacle culture, these events occasionally presented the possibility of truly poetic clashes between languages and artistic traditions—what Glissant calls an éclat, collisions that create sparks of novelty.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Small and ominous-looking, the plants are commonly sold as novelties, and many a curious child (or adult) has triggered its sinister traps with a pencil to see its amazingly rapid response.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This small acrylic container is a great way to draw the eyes of your guests to a small knickknack of your choosing.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Whether antiques, cherished knickknacks, or heirlooms, items that are very delicate and/or precious to the customer are typically items house cleaners won’t want to mess with in order to cut down the risk of damaging them.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curio. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
