Definition of spectaclenext
1
as in pageant
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event the multimedia spectacles that have become established parts of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympic Games

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2
as in glass
spectacles plural a pair of lenses set in a frame that is held in place with ear supports and which are usually worn to correct vision bought a pair of spectacles with nonprescription lenses simply to look more intelligent

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 spectacle During the Great Migration in Tanzania’s famous Serengeti, wildebeest attempt a river crossing in one of nature’s most dramatic spectacles, but just a few dozen feet away, a bona fide traffic jam of safari vehicles crowds the riverbanks like paparazzi at a premiere. Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026 As her lie begins to unravel, her hunger for validation spirals into something far darker, drawing a devastated father into a desperate search and exposing a culture more obsessed with spectacle than consequence. Alex Ritman, Variety, 16 May 2026 Laamb is unique for its spectacle, featuring elaborate costumes, protective charms, and rituals. ABC News, 16 May 2026 Speaking of the movement, the one-minute flying Tourbillon occupies prime position at 6 o’clock, creating even more of a spectacle on the wrist. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for spectacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spectacle
Noun
  • Beauty pageants are added because +40 female adds to their mandates.
    Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
  • The second-to-last episode of the quirky crime drama focused on the Miss Twin Peaks pageant, bringing the characters back from their splintered storylines to a central event.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Noun
  • Handy amenities include toothbrushes, (glass) bottled sparkling and still water, and built-in worldwide plug adapters.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 May 2026
  • The actors were greeted by the exhibition’s curator, Robin McClellan, who led them to Mozart’s childhood violin, encased in glass.
    Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • The exhibit highlights the deployment of Google Distributed Cloud running on TPU v6 (Tensor Processing Units) to enable AI at the network edge.
    Matthew Chin, CNBC, 19 May 2026
  • Robinson's defense team, attorneys Kathy Nester, Michael Burt, Richard Novak and Staci Visser, is seeking to block the public from hearing testimony or seeing exhibits that may later be found inadmissible at trial.
    Michael Ruiz , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Despite strong critical support, it was allotted limited showtimes and minimal exhibition backing — a situation its makers came to see as emblematic of wider structural failures confronting Indian indie cinema.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 May 2026
  • Important people speaking at exhibition openings will tell you that art is about communication.
    Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Noun
  • And 2026 is already off to a bright start, with a buzzy debut novel from Jennette McCurdy, plenty of celebrity memoirs and sci-fi spectaculars.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Nothing this spectacular happens by accident.
    Jordan Robinson, SELF, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • PragueReuters — An unknown thief snatched an 800-year-old skull believed to be of Saint Zdislava of Lemberk from a display box in a church in the northern Czech Republic and ran away with the relic, police said on Wednesday.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
  • Judges will stop by on June 24 to view decorations and displays.
    Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • Demna chose New York City and one of its most famous landmarks as the destination for his first cruise extravaganza for Gucci.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 17 May 2026
  • Rehearsals for the Eurovision Song Contest usually feature elaborate choreography and intense pyrotechnics, staples at the performances of the annual song extravaganza.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026

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“Spectacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spectacle. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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