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
Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
Eddie Jones, a fellow carnival attendee, witnessed the accident.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
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
High above Rio de Janeiro's coastline, he was given the keys to the city by Mayor Eduardo Paes — an honor usually reserved for the kings and queens of the famous carnival.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
Eddie Jones, a fellow carnival attendee, witnessed the accident.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
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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For years, the festival drew crowds to Addison Circle Park for restaurant tastings, food trucks, and live music.—
Robbie Owens,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
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What began as a few socially distanced pop-up events quickly evolved into a local weekend staple, appearing at farmers markets, festivals, restaurants and other retail venues.—
Susan Stapleton,
Des Moines Register,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But by the mid-1930s, Soviet leaders sensed that people needed something to take the edge off in the dead of winter, a carnivalesque custom of the sort that Christmas once provided.—
Andrew Fedorov,
The Atlantic,
31 Dec. 2025
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The film’s centerpiece is a chaotic, carnivalesque parade of surrealistic characters marching through Tokyo.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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From shearling and calf hair to beading and fuzzy fringe, discover the elements that transform everyday dressing into an immersive celebration of imagination and personal style, ahead.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
9 Nov. 2025
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One of the world’s most prestigious art events, Miami Art Week began with Art Basel Miami Beach in 2002 and has since grown into a citywide celebration that draws nearly 80,000 art lovers and tastemakers.—
Staff Author,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Guns is an actor and writer, known for her razor-sharp observations and riotous voice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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In March, the city erupts for Las Fallas, Valencia’s biggest festival, a riotous display of bonfires, fireworks, and parades honoring Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.—
Siobhan Reid,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The festivities continued outdoors with a drone show choreographed to music, followed by a fireworks display that drew cheers from the crowd.—
Sarah Jones,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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Dobrev also shared a video from her megayacht festivities with the Palm Tree Crew, including Alix Earle, Michelle Randolph, and Glen Powell.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Sports radio can be loud and raucous, blaring with bluster and bellowing.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Aztecs make their second trip to Phoenix in a month, this time to face controversial new conference member GCU in one of the nation’s most raucous home-court atmospheres.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Cucinelli, speaking in boisterous Italian through a translator, recalls with a booming laugh.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
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There was also a boisterous celebration in Cleveland's locker room after the game.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Jan. 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 11 Jan. 2026.
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