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
The 2026 edition of the event, produced by Medium Rare in partnership with Authentic Live, will feature a full carnival setup with interactive games, circus entertainment and premium hospitality.
—
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
In the days before the internet turned red carpets into something of a content circus, celebrities would just wear a thing.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 15 Jan. 2026
The idea of a 10% rate cap has all the seriousness of bread-and-circuses governance.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Now, four decades on, two new books return to the shooting, and to the circus that followed, from very different perspectives.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circus
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
In the days before the internet turned red carpets into something of a content circus, celebrities would just wear a thing.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 15 Jan. 2026
The idea of a 10% rate cap has all the seriousness of bread-and-circuses governance.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Now, four decades on, two new books return to the shooting, and to the circus that followed, from very different perspectives.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
Noun
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In the fourth quarter, Soldier Field was an absolute madhouse with 60,000-plus waving towels, chewing fingernails, frothing at the mouth and … grating cheese?—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
11 Jan. 2026
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Instead of the orgiastic madhouse that fans of Monster and American Horror Story have grown accustomed to, Devil in Disguise is a somber affair, as aesthetically chilly as a December in Des Plaines, Illinois.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The island-wide celebration includes concerts, parades, cultural activities, and pageants, while numerous fairs celebrate the best in local art and culture.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Jan. 2026
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One of the most beloved holiday specials ever made doesn’t start with costumed pageants, joyful carols or snowmen come to life but with a self-aware declaration of seasonal depression.—
Abigail Rosenthal,
Mercury News,
24 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In addition to where in the stadium tickets can purchased, Razorback Foundation donor levels and priority points also dictate how parking passes around the stadium are distributed and how many tickets are available for purchase in certain sections.—
Matt Jones,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
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The baseball team, in conjunction with Live Nation, will host the inaugural Braves Country Fest at their home stadium, Truist Park.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Another centered on a teenage girl (Chloë Sevigny doppelgänger Emma Halleen), whose insecurities blind her to a life that is, on its surface, pretty good, finds a palpable sadness within the bedlam of the show.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Jan. 2026
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Its trading floor — the setting for most of the hostile financial bedlam — was last seen smothered in tarpaulin while awaiting closure after the bank was acquired by an Egyptian sovereign wealth fund.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Honoring survivors does not end with speeches or museum exhibits.—
Talia Kaplan,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The multiday event offers interactive games, player appearances, exhibits, merchandise and hands-on football activities for fans of all ages.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the parking lot outside of the coliseum, fans paused to peer inside three racecars Biffle drove during his career.—
Steve Reed,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Jan. 2026
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The coliseum concert marked The Format’s first full-band performance since 2007, although Means and Ruess surprised fans at a 2020 viewing party for a Format concert film in downtown Phoenix with a full unplugged reunion concert.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Cody Rhodes faced Jacob Fatu in the first of what could be many matches, while AJ Styles competed in an exhibition against Shinsuke Nakamura.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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These provide invaluable details about filmmaker’s lives and careers, and the Academy Museum regularly draws on the Academy Foundation’s library and film archive materials for its exhibitions and film screenings.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Clydesdales have become a Super Bowl favorite, and their appearance in 2026 will mark their 48th overall in the advertising roster of the gridiron spectacle.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
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It’s become largely focussed on creating spectacles, such as the No Kings protests, that can mobilize large numbers of people at breakneck speed to march, sign petitions, and contribute money.—
Charles Duhigg,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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