as in decorative
serving to add beauty
changes in the original design of the building were purely cosmetic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 cosmetic
Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 14 Jan. 2025
What Is Botox Used For? Botox is made from botulinum toxin and is used for various medical and cosmetic procedures.
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 10 Jan. 2025
Emma Roth, The Verge, 16 Jan. 2025
Each drawer is deep and able to hold cosmetics, clothing, books, and more.
—Shea Simmons, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cosmetic 
Adjective
Now, watch a cosmetic chemist guess which products are cheap vs. expensive:
Don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.
—Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 14 Jan. 2025
What Is Botox Used For? Botox is made from botulinum toxin and is used for various medical and cosmetic procedures.
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
Its ban as a food additive comes 35 years after the FDA banned its use in cosmetics and topical drugs in 1990.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 16 Jan. 2025
Each drawer is deep and able to hold cosmetics, clothing, books, and more.
—Shea Simmons, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cosmetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cosmetic
Adjective
-
Andrew Williams The Best Smart Lighting Panels, LED Strips, and Ambient Lamps Add some color to your life, find accent lighting to match your mood, and transform the feel of your home with these decorative connected devices.—
Adrienne So,
WIRED,
21 Jan. 2025
-
This live plant from Costa Farms will arrive at your door ready to grow in a neutral decorative pot, standing approximately 8 inches tall.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Wearing her wavy blond tresses in a half-updo, Riddle’s makeup included rosy blush and pink lip gloss.—
Hannah Malach,
WWD,
19 Jan. 2025
-
To be clear, the brutal travel demands are unavoidable with the Big Ten’s membership makeup, 20 conference games and only four West Coast teams.—
Jon Wilner,
The Mercury News,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Snow and sleet was reported as far south as Sarasota and Melbourne, causing many accidents and traffic fatalities and extensive damage to winter crops and berries and ornamental nursery plants.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
Orlando Sentinel,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Take English ivy, a popular choice for stabilizing soil as an ornamental plant.—
Kylie Mohr,
Vox,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
On Valentine’s Day, pair up for special events at the resort like a couples’ scavenger hunt, a sunset paint and sip, and bubbles and stargazing.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2025
-
The Lakers did it by attacking the paint and finding the open player, the team scoring on more than a handful of lobs.—
Dan Woike,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The new species was identified by its scale arrangement, coloring, body size and other subtle physical features, the study said.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Divide in batches, and tint each with a different color of pastel food coloring, if desired.—
Erin Hooker,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near cosmetic
Cite this Entry
“Cosmetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cosmetic. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share