carnival 1 of 2

noun

ˈkär-nə-vəl How to pronounce carnival (audio)
Definition of carnivalnext
as in festival
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something the town's annual Fourth of July carnival

Synonyms & Similar Words

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carnival

2 of 2

adjective

as in carnivalesque

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 carnival
Noun
The Carolina Beach Boardwalk is one reason for that, with carnival games and rides, summertime fireworks, and live music. — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 From sticky carnival rides to summer camps tucked deep in the woods, some of the most disturbing horror comes from taking places that feel comforting and familiar and turning them into inescapable nightmares. — Alaina Urquhart, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The Children’s Zoo encouraged youngsters to feed and pet the animals, but eliminated carnival-style gimmicks that were common in zoos at the time. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2022 The Queen is also expected to attend the Derby, one of her favorite horse race events, a concert at Buckingham Palace and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, a carnival-style celebration during which many artists, including Ed Sheeran, will perform. — Monique Jessen, PEOPLE.com, 12 May 2022 See All Example Sentences for carnival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carnival
  1. festival
  2. carnivalesque
  3. celebration
  4. riotous
  5. festivity
  6. raucous
  7. boisterous
  8. raffish
Noun
  • The period, which usually falls between July and August, is dedicated to the worship of Hindu god Lord Shiva and is marked by fasting, prayers and colorful monsoon festivals across India.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Full of music, dance, and vibrant colors, thousands of people gathered to attend the annual Boston Dominican parade and festival on Sunday afternoon.
    — Paul Burton, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of festival
Adjective
  • Fundamentally, the protest in Delhi amounted to a carnivalesque bonfire of Brand Modi.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In Trinidad, which has a sizable population of Indian-origin immigrants, there is a local carnivalesque form of the holiday called Hosay.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
Definition of carnivalesque
Noun
  • The finish was calm, and came after good pressing from himself and Viktor Gyokeres, but the celebration that followed was what mattered.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Official celebrations were set to continue Friday with flag-raising ceremonies and other events.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of celebration
Adjective
  • Others are stewed with aromatics and oil to make a riotous take on XO sauce, funky and inky and complex, which gilds the hunks of squash under their corny beurre blanc.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The joyous if relatively restrained gathering was the culmination of the riotous nationwide celebrations that had broken out on the evening of April 12, when the results of the parliamentary elections came in.
    — Gordon F. Sander, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Definition of riotous
Noun
  • Then take your pick from ice cream shops and spend some time enjoying the festivities including frequent live music, carnival style games, and even a zipline.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The festivities continued as the brides and a dozen friends went on a buddymoon through the French Riviera.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of festivity
Adjective
  • The question, asked by a potential juror, was met immediately with raucous laughter in the courtroom.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • So, yes, the raucous, rowdy Bills crowds that sometimes stood the entire game at the old Highmark Stadium might be going away.
    — Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of raucous
Adjective
  • There was no music and no hustle and bustle in Inwood on Sunday; just the sound of barricades being laid out in the normally boisterous neighborhood.
    — Kristie Keleshian, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The players were much bigger than Nikolich was at the time, the crowd was boisterous and the lights were exceedingly bright.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of boisterous
Adjective
  • And then there's a top-of-his-game Chevy Chase as a devil-may-care golfer and Bill Murray as a raffish groundskeeper.
    — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 18 June 2026
  • Kids join academies as raffish improvisors, little bundles of wild ideas and schemes.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Definition of raffish

Browse Nearby Words

carnality
carnival
carnivalesque
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Cite this Entry

“Carnival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carnival. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on carnival

Nglish: Translation of carnival for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carnival

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