1
as in rarities
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest
the museum's curiosities include items constructed entirely out of toothpicks
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2
as in ornamentals
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest
an assortment of curiosities from around the world that the family picked up during various vacations
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tricks
an odd or peculiar habit
Charles Dickens typically endowed his characters with an array of endearing curiosities
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Recent Examples of curiosities
For a cabinet of curiosities–style display, place paperwhites in an open-top glass terrarium along with other natural elements like evergreen clippings and pine cones.
—
Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2026
The curio cabinets are empty of their curiosities.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
The other big hit for me was Spellbound by Magic Castle, an experience inspired by the legendary magician Cardini (Richard Valentine Pitchford) that replicates a 1920s speakeasy complete with mood lighting, furnishings, and curiosities from Hollywood’s Magic Castle.
—Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
The question is whether Americans understand why Greenland matters, and what is at stake if strategic constants continue to be treated as political curiosities.
—Carol L. Harris, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Perhaps some curiosities of the cosmos are best left alone.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Altman, with his own curiosities about the efficacy of the payments, helped finance a series of experiments on basic universal income from his OpenResearch project, beginning in 2020.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
This is Amused Bouche, SAVEUR’s food questionnaire that explores the culinary curiosities of some of our favorite people.
—Alyse Whitney, Saveur, 29 Jan. 2026
With the sun, Mercury and Mars activating your expansive ninth house, chances are your curiosities don’t feel lighthearted.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2026
The curio cabinets are empty of their curiosities.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
The other big hit for me was Spellbound by Magic Castle, an experience inspired by the legendary magician Cardini (Richard Valentine Pitchford) that replicates a 1920s speakeasy complete with mood lighting, furnishings, and curiosities from Hollywood’s Magic Castle.
—Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
The question is whether Americans understand why Greenland matters, and what is at stake if strategic constants continue to be treated as political curiosities.
—Carol L. Harris, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Perhaps some curiosities of the cosmos are best left alone.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Altman, with his own curiosities about the efficacy of the payments, helped finance a series of experiments on basic universal income from his OpenResearch project, beginning in 2020.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
This is Amused Bouche, SAVEUR’s food questionnaire that explores the culinary curiosities of some of our favorite people.
—Alyse Whitney, Saveur, 29 Jan. 2026
With the sun, Mercury and Mars activating your expansive ninth house, chances are your curiosities don’t feel lighthearted.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curiosities
Noun
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After putting out Hug of Thunder, one of the best rock albums of that year, Broken Social Scene rolled out their 2019 Let’s Try the After EPs in two volumes, as well as a collection of B-sides and rarities called Old Dead Young in 2022.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
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Homegrown rarities Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester headlined the ‘13 champions, but Boston’s most recent World Series squad in 2018 boasted a dazzling, but entirely outside rotation.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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According to the Environmental Protection Association, neem is safe for use on vegetables and food plants as well as ornamentals.—
Jon VanZile,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Update ornamentals This is THE time of year to add new plants to your garden — or plant a completely new garden.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Instead, here's how to make your house smell good with these tricks to tackle smelly odors in your home and promote pleasant scents.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
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When later asked about the keys to forcing timing turnovers, Harmon said there are techniques and tricks of the trade that the Longhorns practice.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The latest Coco Crush novelties feature the supple necklace and choker along with Signatures creations with the Ruban and Comète collections.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
30 Jan. 2026
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Revenue from the sales of programs, novelties, parking and concession dropped even more sharply—down 40%, from $858,548 to $511,960—while team-specific royalties fell 21% from $470,749 to $370,408.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Personality traits such as mental toughness, discipline, high pain tolerance and persistence may also lead to worsened eating disorder risk and behaviors in athletes.—
Emily Hemendinger,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
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Because so many anatomical and physiological traits differ between the two animals, the specific impact of limb mass distribution could not be isolated.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Downtown Boone is the perfect place to go for souvenirs from your time in Western North Carolina.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
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Its Travel Facts section listed everything from voltage requirements and cultural norms to what kind of food and souvenirs visitors would find.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This perception of tatreez, or traditional Palestinian embroidery, as a type of visual language is widely shared, owing to its intimacy with the land and biographical characteristics.—
Zoe Whitfield,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
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In vacating the life prison term in 2024, Cook County Judge Marc Martin found in part that Modrowski had been unfairly portrayed as emotionless and cold during his 1995 trial and sentencing proceedings when the characteristics were likely due to his autism.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Fill the base with white sand and a handful of small ornaments for interest at the base (the sand will also keep the display from tipping over).—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Feb. 2026
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Kelly green walls, golden chandeliers and vibrant red ornaments set the stage for a dining experience set to a '50s playlist of Sinatra and Dean Martin.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curiosities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curiosities. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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