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
Instead, this reboot might be misremembered as a direct-to-video curio — or rediscovered as a bad cult object destined to give some idiot cinephile alcohol poisoning.
—
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for curio
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for curio
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curio
Noun
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Mix edible plants with ornamentals There’s no rule that says your decorative containers can’t also be productive.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Dark Opal) is the most ornamental of all herbs with pink or purple flowers against a background of dark foliage.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Its legroom is more vast, an automotive rarity.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
-
Playoff no-hitters are a rarity, yet Benbrook has history of it.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Those looking to keep the marker as a souvenir, though, can simply peel these stickers off and create a travel notebook for a physical reflection of your travels.—
Joey Skladany,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
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Fans soon followed, paying a nickel for a scorecard at the stadium and coming out with a souvenir.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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While mainstream vehicles usually get comprehensive updates every few years, low-volume exotics tend evolve more gradually.—
Bradley Iger,
ArsTechnica,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Watches and Wonders ran like clockwork in April, with 65 exhibiting brands showing off their latest novelties to around 60,000 visitors in Geneva and nearly 1 billion online.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
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The novelty, for her, of being in a relationship nowheresville befitted the album’s titular concept.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Add a natural wood or wicker coffee table to the living room, or stack some stone knickknacks on a side table.—
Kylie Petty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curio. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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