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
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of carnival
Paige Cornwell, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
These annual events typically run around three weeks in each location, with a daily carnival, nightly rodeo, and running livestock show.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for carnival
Noun
Viewers took to social media and questioned Probst — scones at a carnival?
—Paige Cornwell, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
These annual events typically run around three weeks in each location, with a daily carnival, nightly rodeo, and running livestock show.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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
See All Example Sentences for carnival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carnival
Noun
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While their genre peers’ fates have varied, Mumford & Sons remained perennial arena and festival headliners, with an ambitious midcareer streak in the studio.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Ty Dolla $ign and Buffalo rapper Benny the Butcher will bolster the hip-hop lineup, while electronic producer ZHU and Chicago DJ and producer Hiroko Yamamura round out the festival’s dance programming.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But in its political culture the corruption was inescapable, and, like the city itself, carnivalesque.—
James Verini,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
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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
Noun
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Pinch-hitter Logan Wade followed with a game-ending popout to Moon, and the first baseman threw his glove high in celebration.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
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Faith observances during historic milestones Trump isn’t the only president to discuss religion during a major milestone celebration.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Don’t miss the riotous ride that’s sure to leave you howling with laughter!—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
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The film is faithful to the franchise’s customary angst, with riotous needle drops (and an obligatory new Nick Cave track) courtesy of Antony Genn and Martin Slattery.—
Miriam Balanescu,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The looming court decision cast a shadow over the weekend festivities.—
Kim Chandler,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
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In typical provincial fashion, these four days of festivities include crafts, great food, bluegrass music, and an opportunity to visit sugar camps, where sap is boiled down into delightfully rich syrup.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The major resorts anchor raucous, nonstop nightlife—live music, rooftop bars, bowling alleys, arcades, and late-night eats.—
Ted Alvarez,
Outside,
4 Mar. 2026
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The raucous crowd certainly made a difference.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Bilodeau has boisterous moments.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
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The classic posture is that the CEO needs to exhibit charisma, which is often characterized as boisterous, dominant and loud.—
Neil Senturia,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Three or four decades ago, the newspaperman was appealingly raffish—at once a bum who drank too much and a knight-errant who charged unafraid at social injustice, succored the weak, and crossed lances with the powerful and arrogant.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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A little lowly courier work, yes, but nothing more raffish than that.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Carnival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carnival. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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