costume 1 of 3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

costume

2 of 3

verb

costume

3 of 3

adjective

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 costume
Noun
From Sam Yates’ direction to Laura Bellingham’s cinematography to Charlotte Mitchell’s costume design, Towards Zero is a feast for the eyes. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 18 Apr. 2025 Hire a really good costume designer and a really good art department. H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
Beyond choreography, students take charge in areas such as costuming, leading rehearsals, staging and vocals. Ainsley Northrop, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025 First 1883, also costumed by Janie Bryant, and then 1923, which is now in its second season. Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
All of the wardrobe was designed at the costume office near the set in Iqaluit. Dana Feldman, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 Shop our favorites and get some costume inspiration below. Lauryn Jiles, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for costume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costume
Noun
  • Maxi dresses have become my best friend, and my closet is filled with soft, flowy dresses that keep me cool and looking stylish whether I’m headed out for dinner or spending a day at the beach.
    Terri Peters, Parents, 29 Apr. 2025
  • From stylish hats to fashionable fascinators, the tradition dates back to the Derby’s earliest days when full morning dress was required of attendees, which at the time meant proper headwear for women.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Vader’s reveal to Luke about being the kid’s father is an all-time truth bomb, and is made better when compared to Luke’s visions of the man behind the mask when training with Yoda.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • The faculty resolution also insists UC rejects any demands from the Trump administration to ban masks at political events, close diversity, equity and inclusion programs or adopt a stricter definition of antisemitism under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
    Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • The attackers — both clad in black and wearing blue surgical masks — sped off in a gray Nissan sedan with West Virginia tags.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The alleged assassin, clad in khaki prison garb, entered the plea in federal court in New York on Friday, April 25.
    Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Newsweek was given the unique opportunity to design a camouflage wrap for a brand-new vehicle—not just to disguise specific features underneath, but to also show off a brand-new electric truck to the public for the first time.
    Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
  • What to look for in a quality bow release Color scheme Some bow releases feature a camouflage design, while others may be black, orange or chrome.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The president and vice president were professionally attired in suits and ties befitting the stateliness of the Oval Office while Zelenskyy opted for a casual outfit resembling a tracksuit.
    Evan Nierman, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The White House posted photos of the president dressed in golfing attire the previous evening while watching U.S. forces hit Houthis rebels in Yemen who’ve been targeting Israeli and U.S. vessels in the Red Sea.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Consider the shoes Photo: Getty Images A dressy beach shoe is certainly a tricky sartorial challenge, given you will likely be walking on sandy terrain.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025
  • This casual tee has a dressy vibe with a plunging V-neck and pretty lace trim.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The mid-credits scene features Red Guardian – in his civilian clothes, not the usual Soviet super-soldier garb – in a grocery store cereal aisle.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • Next up, Penn State’s linebacker Abdul Carter who the New York Giants drafted paid homage to his Muslim roots with garbs that felt fitting.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Cybercriminals Cyber threat opportunism takes many guises, from ransomware actors leveraging media interest in Elon Musk and DOGE to launch a trillion-dollar attack, to physical attackers using shoulder-surfing techniques to steal your phone and access the data contained within.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Leavitt uses the individual stories to showcase Ukrainian resilience and resistance—themes that appear in many guises, including grassroots relief efforts.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Costume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costume. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on costume

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

OSZAR »