carnivalesque
adjective
car·ni·val·esque
ˌkär-nə-və-ˈlesk 
1
: suggestive of a carnival
a carnivalesque celebration
2
: marked by an often mocking or satirical challenge to authority and the traditional social hierarchy
a carnivalesque protest
Examples of carnivalesque in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The atmosphere, for a while, was carnivalesque.
—
Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
Participants take over city streets for a carnivalesque monthly ride, contesting cars’ dominance.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2026
But in its political culture the corruption was inescapable, and, like the city itself, carnivalesque.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Kaddu embodies the carnivalesque spirit of the NFL in London, which has been hosting regular-season games since 2007.
—Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for carnivalesque
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Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
Participants take over city streets for a carnivalesque monthly ride, contesting cars’ dominance.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2026
But in its political culture the corruption was inescapable, and, like the city itself, carnivalesque.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Kaddu embodies the carnivalesque spirit of the NFL in London, which has been hosting regular-season games since 2007.
—Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for carnivalesque
Cite this Entry
“Carnivalesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carnivalesque. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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