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
Ringling Hype Crew circus artists will entertain and delight audiences with an exclusive preview performance featuring unicycle tricks, jump rope acrobatics, hand balancing, plus a special appearance with adorable robo-pup Bailey Circuit.
—
Andrea Manes, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
The young Jacob finds himself on a train boxcar with a traveling circus troupe.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
While he's played into the media circus and is backed by a number of public and private celebrity endorsements, locals remain divided over their choices for mayor.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
The match turned into something of a circus, overshadowing Naomi Osaka’s breakthrough triumph at a major.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for circus
Andrea Manes, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
The young Jacob finds himself on a train boxcar with a traveling circus troupe.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
While he's played into the media circus and is backed by a number of public and private celebrity endorsements, locals remain divided over their choices for mayor.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
The match turned into something of a circus, overshadowing Naomi Osaka’s breakthrough triumph at a major.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
Noun
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Headphones are often my saving grace in this madhouse.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
17 Apr. 2026
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In practice, this means a madhouse of multimedia rooms, packed with gurgling videos and useless machines and humanoid bodies.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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From competitive cheerleading and dance to beauty pageants, my mother put me in it all.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
4 June 2026
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For adult pageants, the organization will send Lianet Aguilera to Miss Supranational and Juan Daniel Naranjo to Mister Supranational, both contests held in Poland.—
Sarah Moreno
May 31,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
Noun
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That’s because with the first 2026 FIFA World Cup game in Miami approaching, FIFA prohibits stadiums from being named for companies that aren’t official FIFA sponsors.—
Tyler Carmona,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
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And then there’s the online bickering as Americans and Europeans on social media can’t seem to stop going after each other about everything from the weather to the quality of each other’s stadiums.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Soon enough, Rosie and Kelsey are screaming at each other again and bedlam breaks out.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
25 May 2026
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The Montreal Canadiens can book their ticket to the Eastern Conference final Saturday night in what will be absolute bedlam in that arena after taking care of business on the road yet again.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Everything first lady occupies multiple floors, including a small theater showing films, and rotating and themed exhibits exploring the influence and legacies of presidential counterparts throughout American history.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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Items in the exhibit, which kicked off what would have been the late singer's birthday weekend, explore the relationship between musical instruments and the human body.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
Noun
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The Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee is scheduled to hold its Official Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Kickoff Party Tuesday at the coliseum’s 1923 Club Rooftop Deck overlooking the site of the FIFA Fan Festival.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
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As law enforcement jogged with the torch along Figueroa Avenue, they were greeted by Special Olympics Southern California athletes and representatives at the coliseum to mark the start of the Los Angeles County leg.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Back in town, the Albuquerque Museum presents an excellent special exhibition related to Route 66’s centennial through January 3, 2027.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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The payoff was a bevy of remarkable oil and pencil sketches (a stunning oil study can be seen in the Olana exhibition) as well as paintings.—
Susan Tallman,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
Noun
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In fact, in a time when artificial intelligence imperils the livelihoods – and lives – of laborers across economic classes, sumptuous spectacle can be an act of resistance in its own right.—
Eileen G'Sell,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
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Every four years, soccer fans around the globe go berserk over the World Cup, but in host cities like Los Angeles, the worldwide spectacle feels bittersweet and financially out of reach.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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