1
as in dress
clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation
a tuxedo is the only acceptable costume for men attending a formal event
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2
as in mask
clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else
Halloween costumes that caricature some of the "celebrities" created by the media over the past year
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as in to dress
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes
the days when people, costumed in their Sunday best, would parade along the grand avenue on Easter
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in costumey
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of costume
Ars Technica, 15 Mar. 2025
Sunil found it that Hetty was walking around in an elaborate period costume the whole day for no reason?
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 14 Mar. 2025
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 Mar. 2025
Avalon got her taste of costuming during the pandemic when Bogard hired a college student (Jared Davis) to teach the art of costuming.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2025
Michael Buckner—Penske Media/Getty Images Wicked's Paul Tazewell is the first Black man to win for costume design
Paul Tazewell, who had previously been nominated for his work in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, snagged the Oscar for costume design.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for costume
Noun
The costumes are great, but the Great Serpent rings are still ludicrously large and impractical.
—Ars Technica, 15 Mar. 2025
Sunil found it that Hetty was walking around in an elaborate period costume the whole day for no reason?
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
After several years as a routine day player in the costuming department, Cronick moved with O’Brien and his talk show to LA in 2009.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 Mar. 2025
Avalon got her taste of costuming during the pandemic when Bogard hired a college student (Jared Davis) to teach the art of costuming.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
There were no costume changes, no slew of guest stars (outside a quick Mustard and SZA cameo), and none of the visual spectacles Super Bowl viewers have come to expect.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2025
Michael Buckner—Penske Media/Getty Images Wicked's Paul Tazewell is the first Black man to win for costume design
Paul Tazewell, who had previously been nominated for his work in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, snagged the Oscar for costume design.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for costume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costume
Noun
-
Brown wore a sheer, figure-hugging black lace dress which featured a faux fur neckline and cuffs, with black underwear underneath.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
12 Mar. 2025
-
On Tuesday, March 11, Ortega arrived at a special screening of her new movie, Death of a Unicorn, wearing a strapless, asymmetrical, black David Koma dress.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Instead, this bill could function as a blanket prohibition on wearing masks at protests and could be used to punish mask-wearing protesters for disfavored speech.—
Nikki Morse,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Mar. 2025
-
In a new medical update, the Vatican said doctors were working to reduce the pope’s nighttime reliance on the noninvasive ventilation mask, which will allow his lungs to work more.—
Colleen Barry,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Thousands of demonstrators clad in canary-yellow soccer jerseys thronged Copacabana Beach this month in support of a leader accused of conspiring to overthrow Brazil’s young democracy.—
Constance Malleret,
The Christian Science Monitor,
21 Mar. 2025
-
As noted in a 2016 Smithsonian report, merchant ships clad with the dazzle pattern during the war were reportedly granted lower insurance premiums.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The two don military camouflage in one scene, and face off elsewhere in the play in more formal attire.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Now, researchers have captured four specific cuttlefish camouflage techniques on video, revealing more about this mesmerizing ability.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In a portrait that is emblematic of her art, Gottfried photographed a circus entertainer dressed in a top hat and white tie, accompanied by his two canine partners, also formally attired, the large Doberman pinscher in a white tie and a turban, the miniature pinscher with a frilly collar.—
Arthur Lubow,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
-
The film’s stars, including Robert Pattinson, attired the best threads for the red carpet occasion, posing for photos ahead of the film’s screening.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
All the new high heels and lady-esque bags supported the dressy trend.—
Rhonda Richford,
WWD,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Family-friendly Offerings The atmosphere on board isn’t geared toward children, with active excursions, lectures on scientific topics, cocktails in the evening, and plenty of dressy dinners.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
And Kardashian opted to pull from and reference two seminal Chanel shows in both her glam and garb of choice.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2025
-
Grant and his five women will be taking part in a Highland Fair, hosted by a couple in Scottish garb.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
All would come under the guise of respect for local norms.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
-
Underneath the guise of afternoon tea, though, lies a book club, which offers Eleanor, Rose and Lavinia the chance of newfound freedom.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Costume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costume. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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