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
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
Juliet Arch Cabinet The Juliet Arch Cabinet from the Better Homes & Gardens collection at Walmart is one of the most aesthetic and functional curio cabinets available.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2025
This profile starts as a curio, but very quickly becomes fascinating.
—Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for curio
Morgan Meier, Curbed, 12 Feb. 2025
The former became a cult curio; the latter remained unreleased until 2002.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2025
Juliet Arch Cabinet The Juliet Arch Cabinet from the Better Homes & Gardens collection at Walmart is one of the most aesthetic and functional curio cabinets available.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2025
This profile starts as a curio, but very quickly becomes fascinating.
—Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
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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
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Companion plants for ornamentals such as hydrangeas are selected for aesthetic purposes.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Leading a Slow but Strategic Shift Despite its early-mover status, Semler Scientific remains a rarity.—
Becca Bratcher,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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This new find is particularly exciting due to the rarity of evidence for human-whale interactions.—
Stephanie Edwards,
Discover Magazine,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Believed to be made from a sheep’s appendix, the prophylactic dates back to 1830 and is likely a souvenir from a brothel, according to a statement from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam on Tuesday.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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John Rave reaches milestone Rave, who made his big-league debut on Monday, left Kauffman Stadium with a special souvenir from Wednesday’s game: the baseball from his first hit as a major-leaguer.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2025
Noun
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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
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Eschewing runways for a closed public road, the annual Sun Valley Tour de Force, next taking place July 17 through 19 in Ketchum, Idaho, allows enthusiasts to test the limits of their own exotics, such as the owner of a Bugatti Chiron who reached 253.01 mph on a previous edition’s 3.2-mile stretch.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Having a greater sense of ownership, variety, novelty and excitement about their work does.—
Shannon Gabriel,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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The tight competition and novelty of the race outcomes positions the sport well for gaming, Johnson said.—
Harriet Taylor,
CNBC,
2 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 10 Jun. 2025.
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