COSTUMES Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

costumes 1 of 2

noun

plural of costume

as in dresses

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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as in masks

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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costumes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of costume

as in clothes

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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of costumes

Noun

For Alex, this led to a decades-long collaboration, designing sets and costumes for the Paul Taylor Dance Company. — Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026 However, her annual 31 days of churning out Halloween costumes appears to have come to an end. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Julianna Sellers joined the protest in an inflatable axolotl (endangered salamander) suit, inspired by Portland Protestors donning silly costumes while protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this year. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026 Viewers will have the opportunity to rent the original costumes worn on screen by Miller and other cast members. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 Holly Waddington, who won an Oscar for Poor Things, is doing the costumes. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 For Jekyll-Hyde, the costumes are crucial and add to the characterization, distinguishing the two men inhabiting the same body. — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 Jimothy The viral raccoon on everybody's mind this year is also about to become one of the best costumes of the season! — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 When the costumes come off, viewers can see if the romance can survive the shift to reality. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026

Verb

The finale began with part one of the three-part Head of Household competition, as the finalists were forced to hold on to a kite for as long as possible while dressed in some ridiculous Ben Franklin costumes. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2026 The night also saw modern iterations of court costumes from the 17th and 18th centuries. — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Seven days of building both the Ice King and Charlie the Unicorn costumes with much trial and error have culminated in her decision to go as the Ice King for the first day of San Diego Comic-Con. — Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 24 July 2026 Stewart recounted New York’s enthusiastic reaction to the Knicks winning, including the appearance of multiple Spider-Man costumes, a dancing MTA bus driver, and a drum line. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026 The same girls who’d posted winking pop-culture-reference couples Halloween costumes a few years ago were now posting their toddlers in their own pop-culture-reference costumes. — Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026 To make that medicine go down easier, RAYE costumes her fatalism in a baroque maximalism. — Boutayna Chokrane, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026 It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion. — Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026 The room houses costumes for performances for the entire year, and there are about 40 years of costumes in the room. — Najahe Sherman, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for costumes

Noun

Ortega has kept other platform Louboutin designs on rotation, like the Christian Louboutin Cassia Satin Pumps, the Rosalie Alta Sandals and the Nenecheritza MM Sandals to pair with her long skirts, dresses or wide-legged trousers.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Bustiers, romantic tops, dresses and elevated separates should also resonate, alongside occasionwear that brings a fresh perspective to glamour through texture, movement and color.

— Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of dresses

Noun

Police fired tear gas and water cannons to push back people wearing hoods and masks and throwing fireworks, paving stones and other objects at officers in the Place de la République, northeast of the Paris city center.

— SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
In the southern port city of Marseille, some protesters briefly forced their way into the lobby of City Hall and a group of people wearing hoods and masks damaged a police station.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of masks

Noun

Choose items that complement several outfits rather than just one.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026
Especially once they’re pushed out of their family home and must make do in a cottage in Devonshire, Snell wanted to show how the girls borrow from each other, adapt odds and ends, and don’t always put outfits together to match.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of outfits

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costumery

costumes

costumey

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“Costumes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costumes. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of costumes

noun

verb

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