as in decorative
serving to add beauty
changes in the original design of the building were purely cosmetic
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Recent Examples of cosmetic
Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 18 Mar. 2025
Related article Nip and tuck surgeries for dogs and cats are more than cosmetic.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Canada, Mexico and China quickly retaliated, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying Ottawa is setting 25% tariffs on $20.7 billion worth of U.S. imports, from orange juice to cosmetics.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cosmetic
Adjective
The difference: Lip masks tend to have richer ingredients and a thicker consistency, Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, a cosmetic and medical dermatologist specializing in facial rejuvenation at NYC & Newport Beach Dermatology & Plastic Surgery, tells SELF.
—Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 18 Mar. 2025
Related article Nip and tuck surgeries for dogs and cats are more than cosmetic.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
Noun
Carney was referring to an initial $30 billion Canadian (US$21 billion) worth of retaliatory tariffs that have been applied on items like American orange juice, peanut butter, coffee, appliances, footwear, cosmetics, motorcycles and certain pulp and paper products.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Canada, Mexico and China quickly retaliated, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying Ottawa is setting 25% tariffs on $20.7 billion worth of U.S. imports, from orange juice to cosmetics.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cosmetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cosmetic
Adjective
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Shop these decorative pieces from the Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi collection before Wayfair’s Spring Cyber Sale ends on March 24.—
Rachel Trujillo,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
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Its extravagant Beaux Arts design, featuring garlands, arched windows, and decorative cartouches, are a sight to behold.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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For a night out in New York City with fiancé Benny Blanco, Gomez stepped out in a monochromatic makeup combo.—
Ranyechi Udemezue,
Vogue,
20 Mar. 2025
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The model comes from the personal collection of the Oscar-winning special effects and makeup effects artist who has a long list of credits on high-profile films like King Kong, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Alien, The NeverEnding Story, Conan the Destroyer and Dune.—
Chris Gardner,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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To avoid these issues, here’s a basic rundown of the minimal soil depth required for the most common edible and ornamental plants: Most herbs, lettuce, and other plants with shallow root systems grow in beds that are at least 6 inches deep.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Mar. 2025
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Crisp, clean, and classic for any kind of bedroom setup, this 100% cotton option from Annie Selke features split corners, ornamental stitching, and a generous 18-inch drop.—
Shoko Wanger,
Architectural Digest,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The health effects from these exposures are not well-understood, the agency said, noting that many of the buildings affected were built before 1978, when lead paint was still commonly used.—
John Bonifield,
CNN,
23 Mar. 2025
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The driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet — who won the pole position for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at 3 p.m. Sunday — is piloting a bright pink and teal paint scheme representing Unrivaled, the new professional three-on-three women’s basketball league.—
Sam Navarro,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Likely, their universal dull, dark coloring helped these early mammals to better camouflage at night and stay warm.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
13 Mar. 2025
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The moon’s red coloring begins to fade and the dark part shrinks down until the moon’s appearance returns to its typical shape, according to NASA.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacramento Bee,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cosmetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cosmetic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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