Definition of circusnext
1
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

3
as in stadium
a large usually roofless building for sporting events with tiers of seats for spectators the Roman circus is believed to have held 50,000 spectators in ancient times

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 circus Classics like Vampire Blood and Ghoul Friend are back in fresh packaging for 2026, and the accompanying decor pieces are perfect for anyone who loves a spooky circus theme. Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 2 July 2026 Then the movie flashes back to tell their overall story — from Angela’s childhood in a circus family, to their initial collaboration, to their attempts to scale greater and greater heights, always with an eye on their follower counts. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 July 2026 Circus Model, a more than 42,000-piece re-creation of an early 20th-century circus. Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 30 June 2026 But something about this circus just offends me on a spiritual level. Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
Noun
  • Headphones are often my saving grace in this madhouse.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
  • In practice, this means a madhouse of multimedia rooms, packed with gurgling videos and useless machines and humanoid bodies.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The 2026 festival included live entertainment, dozens of vendors, public health services, a scavenger hunt, a cultural parade, a beauty pageant and a live performance by the musical artist Common.
    Jack Harvel July 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
  • This Fourth of July, the pageant will be loud.
    Otis Moss III, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • These include the people welcoming attendees into stadiums, VIP lounge chefs, waiters and the flagbearers during the opening ceremony.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • The club has enjoyed an eight-game sellout streak as fans have flocked to fill the team’s 7,200-capacity stadium in Garden City.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • The scene around me was one of utter bedlam, with stadium officials even joining in the celebrations.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • If the Spurs stave off elimination, Johnson presenting the trophy to the Knicks at home after a Game 6 win on Tuesday could surpass the bedlam from the comeback.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Nineteen cannons discovered at the bottom of the Savannah River were unveiled Thursday as a part of a new exhibit at the Savannah History Museum.
    Amy Galo, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Public spaces present exhibits that immerse you in the nostalgia of the Golden Age of air travel.
    Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • The move to North Main Street brought more Stockyards visitors and cowboys headed to Billy Bob’s Texas or the coliseum rodeos.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026
  • With the tattoo tables pushed to the side, the room becomes a coliseum for adults going to war with Beyblades, a children’s toy made popular a quarter of a century ago.
    Chris Lau, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • The institution has grown into one of the region’s premier history museums, featuring historic homes, gardens, archives and exhibitions.
    Kaitlyn Harvey, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • The exhibition also included a retrospective display of eight landmark creations released over the brand’s three decades, highlighting the evolution of Roberto Coin's design language.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • From her club seat with her friends, season ticket-holder Jade Greenhut captured the center circle spectacle.
    Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • What Campos loved was the show, the spectacle, the opportunity for self-expression.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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