as in curiosa
things that are important or useful for only a short time; items that were not meant to have lasting value
—usually plural
He has a large collection of old menus and other ephemera.
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Recent Examples of ephemera
Some editions were signed, and all contained collectible paper ephemera, some randomized.
—
Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 22 June 2025
Then there’s Bittner Antiques of Shelburne, Vt., which specializes in a range of antiques, vintage, and old objects, which include watches, jewelry, silver, fine art, books and ephemera, photography, military, furniture, collectibles, coins and currency, Americana, and decorative art.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
The demand for the ephemera of genius might be viewed as an update on the medieval crowds who flocked to the (various) churches that claimed to have the foreskin of Christ.
—S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
At the same time, archival collections have meticulously preserved their letters, diaries, and other ephemera for researchers to explore.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ephemera
Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 22 June 2025
Then there’s Bittner Antiques of Shelburne, Vt., which specializes in a range of antiques, vintage, and old objects, which include watches, jewelry, silver, fine art, books and ephemera, photography, military, furniture, collectibles, coins and currency, Americana, and decorative art.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
The demand for the ephemera of genius might be viewed as an update on the medieval crowds who flocked to the (various) churches that claimed to have the foreskin of Christ.
—S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
At the same time, archival collections have meticulously preserved their letters, diaries, and other ephemera for researchers to explore.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ephemera
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ephemera
Noun
-
These are very tastefully laid off, with walks and carriage drives, and are covered with a profusion of rare exotics, beautiful flowers, and semi-tropical plants of every variety known to this climate.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
4 July 2025
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The question is, if our native plants evolved under the local conditions, how on earth do these exotics outcompete them?—
Paul Cappiello,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
But there’s much more to the apartment than a mere accumulation of objets de vertu.—
Mayer Rus,
Architectural Digest,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Crawford is an inveterate collector, a hunter-gatherer par excellence, and her home is a testament to decades spent amassing oddities and objets de vertu of every stripe.—
Mayer Rus,
Architectural Digest,
28 June 2024
Noun
-
Stalter is refreshingly comfortable in her own skin—a rarity in Hollywood (and everywhere else, really).—
Lindy Segal,
Glamour,
7 July 2025
-
But that isn’t the case for the Cardinals, who are a rarity in this regard.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
Plates and placemats, yellowed bed linens and napkins, glassware, curios, and sewing kits.—
Libby Buck
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
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Today, next to the cast of Callie’s foot is an urn with her ashes and a glass curio cabinet filled with mementos including baby shoes.—
Laura Ungar,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ephemera.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ephemera. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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