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
Their teachers see them not as representatives of intersectional identities but as unique individuals, each with his or her own heritages, curiosities, and passions—each child to be cherished and known.
—
Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Rather than offering an echoing, soulless ambiance, the interior designers—ArchFlorence—have cleverly managed to create a warm and welcoming environment, filled with art (from the owner’s formidable collection), oriental rugs, objects and curiosities, fabulous books.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Among the pieces up for grabs are one of Keaton’s trademark bowler hats, a cabinet of curiosities from the Something’s Gotta Give star’s personal office, a pair of collages made by Keaton herself, and the original untitled script for Annie Hall.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026
Ultraprecise clocks are more than scientific curiosities.
—Andrei Derevianko, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
Astrology and psychic websites are no longer fringe curiosities but are instead becoming actual spaces where people process emotions, relationships, and life decisions.
—Kody Boye, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Rockwell says his designs for The Hand & The Eye were inspired in part by the artist Joseph Cornell’s famous boxes, cabinets of curiosities that functioned as intimate dioramas and theaters.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
After Anthropic accidentally leaked the source code to its blockbuster Claude chatbot, netizens swiftly pounced to start plowing through its more than 512,000 lines of code — and have uncovered numerous curiosities sprinkled throughout.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
Transit often takes me outside of myself, offering new forms, curiosities, psychogeographies.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Rather than offering an echoing, soulless ambiance, the interior designers—ArchFlorence—have cleverly managed to create a warm and welcoming environment, filled with art (from the owner’s formidable collection), oriental rugs, objects and curiosities, fabulous books.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Among the pieces up for grabs are one of Keaton’s trademark bowler hats, a cabinet of curiosities from the Something’s Gotta Give star’s personal office, a pair of collages made by Keaton herself, and the original untitled script for Annie Hall.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026
Ultraprecise clocks are more than scientific curiosities.
—Andrei Derevianko, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
Astrology and psychic websites are no longer fringe curiosities but are instead becoming actual spaces where people process emotions, relationships, and life decisions.
—Kody Boye, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Rockwell says his designs for The Hand & The Eye were inspired in part by the artist Joseph Cornell’s famous boxes, cabinets of curiosities that functioned as intimate dioramas and theaters.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
After Anthropic accidentally leaked the source code to its blockbuster Claude chatbot, netizens swiftly pounced to start plowing through its more than 512,000 lines of code — and have uncovered numerous curiosities sprinkled throughout.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
Transit often takes me outside of myself, offering new forms, curiosities, psychogeographies.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curiosities
Noun
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The space is also adorned with vitrines showcasing jewelry by David Webb, Boucheron, and René Boivin, as well as other rarities, like an asteroid fragment and a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
17 Apr. 2026
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The vinyl rarities sold exclusively during the annual Record Store Day in April run from Taylor Swift to the Grateful Dead and local indie acts, but much of the appeal is the joyous atmosphere that surrounds the industry promotion.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2026
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
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While there are more than 50 species of junipers, less than a dozen are grown as ornamentals.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Davis occasionally destabilizes this very familiar soundtrack with sly production tricks from Horne.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
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However, deer are adaptable creatures and often get used to the tricks put in their path, eventually ignoring attempts to deter them, Walke says.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Standing up to roughly 6 feet tall and weighing up to approximately 450 pounds, these aren’t background novelties.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
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Other novelties include indigo, gray and beige coatings and a gray coating on a black base, and a new construction with dark and light indigo rope dye.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There are a few traits that can make any evaluator skeptical of Martínez’s offensive ceiling.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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Nothing has tested those traits more than what Cora, 50, endured over the last week.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
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From there, walk Nakamise Street for street snacks and souvenirs.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
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The mint julep became the event’s official drink in 1939, when racetrack managers began selling the glasses the drinks were served in as souvenirs.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Researchers evaluated and recorded the same 28 characteristics for each species based on preexisting data from universities and government agencies, Nunez-Mir said.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Clean-up operations involve experts who calculate the risk of a criticality accident based on the characteristics of the material being moved, Rofer says.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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During the service, it is presented along with a number of spiritual ornaments, including the sovereign's orb and several swords, per the Royal Collection Trust.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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Hallmark went live on social media Friday from its Kansas City headquarters, featuring employees who helped create the ornaments.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curiosities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curiosities. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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