1
as in madhouse
a place of uproar or confusion
with seven kids in the house, it's a circus most of the time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pageant
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event
the media circus that took place outside the courthouse every day of the murder trial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circus
Hendricks Animal Shelter to host pet adoption during circus
A special pet adoption event in conjunction with the circus will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, September 27, presented by Hendricks Animal Shelter, according to a news release.
—
Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Whether hunted in the wild, confined in laboratories, imprisoned in zoos or circuses, caught in traps or caged, raised and killed for their fur, skin, feathers or flesh, animals have no freedom.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025
The resulting media circus of their incompetence distracts us from their behind-the-scenes actions that are fueling a growing health crisis impacting the very working-class communities that helped deliver Trump his second term.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
The circus company Spiegelworld launched its immersive DiscoShow last year at the Linq Hotel, with an attached restaurant called Diner Ross, serving disco fries, green goddess wedge salads, and Midori sours.
—AFAR Media, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Whether hunted in the wild, confined in laboratories, imprisoned in zoos or circuses, caught in traps or caged, raised and killed for their fur, skin, feathers or flesh, animals have no freedom.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025
The resulting media circus of their incompetence distracts us from their behind-the-scenes actions that are fueling a growing health crisis impacting the very working-class communities that helped deliver Trump his second term.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
The circus company Spiegelworld launched its immersive DiscoShow last year at the Linq Hotel, with an attached restaurant called Diner Ross, serving disco fries, green goddess wedge salads, and Midori sours.
—AFAR Media, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
Noun
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The madhouse of awards season and all its many, many controversies — not to mention an ongoing parade of natural and man-made disasters — has until now perhaps overshadowed some of the year’s lower-stakes joys.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2025
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But things move fast in the Goodison madhouse.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Among her other music supervision credits were several editions of the Miss Universe pageant and the NAACP Image Awards.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
15 July 2025
-
Seo Min-ju, a 2013 Miss Korea beauty pageant winner, appeared in the 2024 film Firefighters and in this film plays a tough cop that Nam-hyeok has a crush on.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
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The club celebrate that with stadium artwork, including a collage of more than 150 international supporter clubs.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
-
In June, Jonas Brothers downsized six of their stadium shows and rebooked them for the same dates in smaller venues without giving much of an explanation.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
30 July 2025
Noun
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So many of us have spent these last few months running and thither from bad news to more bad news, from chaos to bedlam, from disbelief to shock.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2025
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His second was an absolute pearl of a goal, setting off complete bedlam at Monterrey’s iconic Estadio BBVA, known as ‘The Steel Giant’.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Noun
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The series is programmed to accompany the exhibit that first opened in 2024.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
30 July 2025
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The Carver group worked closely with the Eastside team to create museum-quality exhibits in the Yellow Jacket Conference Center at the new school.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Noun
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The outdoor sets will bookend The Format’s headlining performance in the coliseum.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
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Despite the loss, Friday night was a lot of fun inside the coliseum.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
14 June 2025
Noun
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This exhibition game precedes the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony, which takes place on Saturday.—
Mark LaSota,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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Anyone who has caught Vuitton’s roving exhibitions dedicated to travel, Volez, Voyagez, Voguez, knows the extent of the maison’s dedication to the art of travel.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
30 July 2025
Noun
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Set pieces are teased with just enough spectacle – exploding cars, balletic fight sequences, and globe-trotting vistas – to assure fans that the sequel is raising the stakes.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 July 2025
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But Brown never wanted the deeper emotions of his music and the underlying story of his own personal triumphs and tragedies get lost in the spectacle.—
Scott Huver,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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