1
: a minor show offered in addition to a main exhibition (as of a circus)
2
: an incidental diversion or spectacle
Examples of sideshow in a Sentence
Their disagreement is just a political sideshow when compared to the real issues at hand.
Recent Examples on the Web
Last Wednesday night, less than half a mile from this event, there was another Juneteenth celebration on Grand Avenue, which ended with 15 people injured from a multiple shooting after a sideshow in the area.
—
Ray Chavez, The Mercury News, 23 June 2024
In truth, that wouldn’t really be much in this case besides a sideshow at this point.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 June 2024
In what may have been the largest mass shooting in Oakland’s history, 15 people were wounded by gunfire Wednesday night at a sideshow near Lake Merritt.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 19 June 2024
Sports play a role in shaping the American college experience — including who gets in and who doesn’t, even at our most selective schools — that is unimaginable outside the US, where university sports are a sideshow at best.
—Bryan Walsh, Vox, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for sideshow 
Ray Chavez, The Mercury News, 23 June 2024
In truth, that wouldn’t really be much in this case besides a sideshow at this point.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 June 2024
In what may have been the largest mass shooting in Oakland’s history, 15 people were wounded by gunfire Wednesday night at a sideshow near Lake Merritt.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 19 June 2024
Sports play a role in shaping the American college experience — including who gets in and who doesn’t, even at our most selective schools — that is unimaginable outside the US, where university sports are a sideshow at best.
—Bryan Walsh, Vox, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for sideshow
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sideshow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sideshow
Cite this Entry
“Sideshow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sideshow. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sideshow
noun
side·show
-ˌshō 
: a small show off to the side offered in addition to a main show (as of a circus)
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