as in festivals
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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Recent Examples of carnivals
The Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asia and in the United States with parades, carnivals, fireworks and the remembrance of ancestors.
—
Julia Gomez, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Of course, there’s the colorful king cake, the traditional New Orleans recipes like gumbo and jambalaya, as well as jubilant carnivals and parades.
—Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026
Tom Parker, who had recently quit the circuses and carnivals, was living in Tampa doing small independent promotions.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2025
When the days are short and the weather dreary across much of Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe, these winter carnivals bring a punch of joy.
—Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 18 Oct. 2025
Lueder Designer Marie Lueder was inspired by a melange of things this season — intimate gatherings, medieval carnivals, intense football matches.
—Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2025
Autumn might taste like pumpkin and toffee at Dairy Queen but Krispy Kreme is looking to carnivals for its latest fall flavors.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Julia Gomez, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Of course, there’s the colorful king cake, the traditional New Orleans recipes like gumbo and jambalaya, as well as jubilant carnivals and parades.
—Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026
Tom Parker, who had recently quit the circuses and carnivals, was living in Tampa doing small independent promotions.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2025
When the days are short and the weather dreary across much of Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe, these winter carnivals bring a punch of joy.
—Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 18 Oct. 2025
Lueder Designer Marie Lueder was inspired by a melange of things this season — intimate gatherings, medieval carnivals, intense football matches.
—Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2025
Autumn might taste like pumpkin and toffee at Dairy Queen but Krispy Kreme is looking to carnivals for its latest fall flavors.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carnivals
Noun
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The most famous is one of Ireland’s oldest festivals, Puck Fair in Killorglin, County Kerry.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
26 Feb. 2026
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Such sponsorships are common around the state, particularly for signature events that draw crowds to a city or town for festivals and parades.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The month of February brought Tet celebrations, rainy weather and the start of spring season sports.—
Michele Cardon,
Oc Register,
3 Mar. 2026
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This year, the celebrations moved into fortified bomb shelters as the country wages war against Iran’s modern-day leaders.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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More than 8,000 athletes competed across the four events in 2025, and Little Rock Marathon Race Director Geneva Lamm says there are more than 12,000 registered for this year's festivities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
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Schiffer said things had calmed down after Sunday night and that the Hole gallery was working to avoid problems for the rest of the week’s festivities.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Carnivals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carnivals. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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