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
This profile starts as a curio, but very quickly becomes fascinating.
—
Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Black Emperor—and Freedom, the record that crystallized McMahon’s songwriting and elevated Amen Dunes beyond its origins as a reliquary of underground curios.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024
Along one wall, a deep-brown curio cabinet full of tchotchkes and crystal is the resting place for Wells’ trove of speculative fiction awards.
—Meghan Herbst, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024
Yesterday’s Treasures sells an array of curios and ephemera, including local art, vintage postcards and old Provincetown publications.
—Brett Sokol, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for curio
Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Black Emperor—and Freedom, the record that crystallized McMahon’s songwriting and elevated Amen Dunes beyond its origins as a reliquary of underground curios.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024
Along one wall, a deep-brown curio cabinet full of tchotchkes and crystal is the resting place for Wells’ trove of speculative fiction awards.
—Meghan Herbst, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024
Yesterday’s Treasures sells an array of curios and ephemera, including local art, vintage postcards and old Provincetown publications.
—Brett Sokol, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
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Companion plants for ornamentals such as hydrangeas are selected for aesthetic purposes.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2025
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Multipurpose nasturtiums can be grown for their edible flowers and leaves, or enjoyed as pollinator-friendly ornamentals.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Even Nuno Espirito Santo did not muster as concentrated a run of Premier League victories as his countryman, who has managed it thanks to another Wolves rarity, with the club naming an unchanged starting line-up for five successive games for the first time in more than five years.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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Jeffers sits Christian Vázquez drew his second straight start on Saturday, a rarity for a Twins catcher, because Ryan Jeffers is dealing with a minor thumb injury.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Purchases of food, drink, lanterns to launch on the lake and souvenirs require Wildbucks, scrip that can be bought on the grounds.—
Eric E. Harrison,
Arkansas Online,
9 Apr. 2025
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The beautiful bookshop boasts fiction and contemporary non-fiction but its speciality is really in higher-end fine art books (that would make for great Parisian souvenirs).—
Kaitlyn McInnis,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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The fish species are in constant flux, and this location is often dominated by exotics.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This year’s novelties included the first new collection from Rolex since 2012, the debut of the world’s most complicated wristwatch by Vacheron Constantin and more.—
Sarah Whitmire,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Create novelty by rotating toys Cats can get bored with their toys.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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If that’s true, then sure, waste wall space in your kitchen for knickknacks.—
Sherry Kuehl,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2025
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This backpack's interior is nicely organized with pen holders, a mesh pocket, and a few other slots for your knickknacks, plus a padded section for a 16-inch laptop.—
Adrienne So,
WIRED,
13 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curio. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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