1
as in madhouse
a place of uproar or confusion
with seven kids in the house, it's a circus most of the time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pageant
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event
the media circus that took place outside the courthouse every day of the murder trial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circus
After scoring the game’s first points, capitalizing on a circus Mountaineers turnover, Charlotte’s offense was rendered lifeless for much of the night.
—
Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2025
See over 100 daily shows, including a circus show and a sword fight on opening weekend.
—Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2025
Cities subsidize stadiums; how about micro‑grants for pop‑up circus rigs, drag brunches, and sidewalk music that turns a block into a destination?
—Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
What sport combines the intensity of a high-wire circus act with the strategic thinking of a grand master chess match?
—Eric Zillmer, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2025
See over 100 daily shows, including a circus show and a sword fight on opening weekend.
—Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2025
Cities subsidize stadiums; how about micro‑grants for pop‑up circus rigs, drag brunches, and sidewalk music that turns a block into a destination?
—Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
What sport combines the intensity of a high-wire circus act with the strategic thinking of a grand master chess match?
—Eric Zillmer, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
Noun
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The madhouse of awards season and all its many, many controversies — not to mention an ongoing parade of natural and man-made disasters — has until now perhaps overshadowed some of the year’s lower-stakes joys.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2025
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But things move fast in the Goodison madhouse.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Attractions include kitschy traditions such as a butter-sculpting demonstration, in which a master carver crafts a bust of the winner of the annual Princess Kay of the Milky Way pageant, and the Miracle of Birth Center, displaying pens of expectant farm animals.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Champion later revealed to Vestavia Voice that she was first scouted at one of her sister's pageants.—
Arielle Tschinkel,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And the stadium atmosphere was dazzling, even in the drizzle.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
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Speaking at the Hawgs Illustrated Sports Club in Springdale on Thursday, Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek cited several factors working against the stadium hosting the team again.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Just as much bedlam erupted here at Weird and Wild World HQ.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
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Their journey to the Comiskey concert was typical of the bedlam that accompanied their performances.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Other exhibits tell more complex stories of how humans have interacted with the natural world throughout history.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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By midweek, the workplace apparently resembled a corporate museum exhibit.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mike Crum, director of Fort Worth’s Public Events Department, said that money will be used to expand the coliseum’s concourse and update restroom and concession areas, among other improvements.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Aug. 2025
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The outdoor sets will bookend The Format’s headlining performance in the coliseum.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
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On the second day of the fair, Rossini took me on a tour of some of her favorite attractions—a ride on the SkyGlider chairlift, a visit to the crop-art exhibition, which featured several intricate portraits of Taylor Swift made entirely from seeds.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Up until his passing, Armani was working on a retrospective exhibition and a runway show to celebrate 50 years of being in business.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The skull of a brown bear discovered in 2016 at the Viminacium amphitheatre in Serbia and recently analyzed provides the first physical evidence of the species’ involvement in Roman spectacles, as well as insights into its life in captivity, according to the study.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
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Zhou’s theatrical vision explores humor, sensuality, and existential themes, resulting in garments that blur the boundaries of fashion, sculpture, and spectacle.—
Essence,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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