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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as in carnivalesque
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of carnival
Chloe McGowan, The Indianapolis Star, 27 June 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
Debby Rice, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
Now, the entire carnival has been carefully restored and reassembled to share with the world.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for carnival
Noun
Whitestown's family-friendly Independence Day Celebration will kick off at 6 p.m. with live music, carnival-style food, a ticketed kid's zone and a fireworks show once the sun goes down.
—Chloe McGowan, The Indianapolis Star, 27 June 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
Adjective
What would a carnival be without corn dogs, cotton candy, rides and bingo?
—Debby Rice, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
Now, the entire carnival has been carefully restored and reassembled to share with the world.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for carnival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carnival
Noun
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The film has played more than 100 festivals internationally and is distributed by Kino Lorber.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
12 Sep. 2025
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The festival also features art vendors, local talent, food trucks and, for kids, face painting, bubbles and bouncy houses.—
Eric E. Harrison,
Arkansas Online,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The scene outside Pearl Street, following the verdict, was literally carnivalesque, almost nihilistic, as revellers poured baby oil on themselves.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
3 July 2025
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Before last year’s trial, the blocks surrounding the Superior Court in Dedham developed a carnivalesque atmosphere.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Her kids were at the celebration with flags and traditional Mexican shirts.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Sep. 2025
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As Emmy celebrations peppered the town on Saturday night, a starkly differently occasion left attendees shaken, tearful and reminded of the immersive power of cinema.—
Stacey Wilson Hunt,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For the finale, the street went dark, and the UBS Arena in Elmont, near New York City, was lit up with teal strobe lights like a riotous party.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
7 Sep. 2025
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The Producers, Garrick Theatre (1st September 2025 – 12th February 2026) Mel Brooks’ riotous classic returns to the West End just in time for his 99th birthday.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Highlights from the festivities have included Winfrey and her bestie Gayle King attending a cozy Ralph Lauren show and a cavalcade of stars, from Gwyneth Paltrow to Olivia Wilde, turning out for Michael Kors.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
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The Bear star Jeremy Allen White missed the festivities to attend to his best friend's wedding.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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As Verlander walked off the mound, he was greeted with a raucous standing ovation.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
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Another is Normal, the raucous action pic written by John Wick and Nobody creator Derek Kolstad and starring Bob Odenkirk.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Their 13th album, International, interprets the ritual of early retirement sendoff as a boisterous dance party with plenty of music royalty cameos showing up to pay their respects.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
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Among the latter, McElwee pays a visit to his longtime friend Charleen Swansea, who stole the show in Sherman’s March with her boisterous real-talk and raunchy humor.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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A little lowly courier work, yes, but nothing more raffish than that.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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The banal village tunes that Mahler altered into sinister mock vulgarities—did these not recall the raffish klezmer bands, the wandering musicians who played at shtetl weddings?—
David Denby,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Carnival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carnival. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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