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 Mansion, Joe Colossa, is the circus’ former trainmaster.
—
Midwest Living, 11 June 2026
Yes, one of those famous circus tents is pitched right in our South Bay backyard.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
While the atmosphere should be equal parts raucous and circus at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, the Spurs are desperate to win a basketball game in the middle of it all.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 9 June 2026
The logo-shooting, circus-passing, shape-shifting revelation who was once arguably the most famous basketball player in the world has become rude, entitled and, frankly, not all that fun.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for circus
Midwest Living, 11 June 2026
Yes, one of those famous circus tents is pitched right in our South Bay backyard.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
While the atmosphere should be equal parts raucous and circus at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, the Spurs are desperate to win a basketball game in the middle of it all.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 9 June 2026
The logo-shooting, circus-passing, shape-shifting revelation who was once arguably the most famous basketball player in the world has become rude, entitled and, frankly, not all that fun.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 8 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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The building hosted many notable events, including the Miss USA pageant in 2001 and 2002, a rally by President Barack Obama, concerts by Prince, Whitney Houston, Ludacris, LL Cool J and many others.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
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The store became a sponsor of the Miss World beauty pageant, and John served as a judge for Miss Universe Great Britain, a significant recruiting pipeline for models.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Noun
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More than once, drones have gotten close enough to the massive stadium in Inglewood to be taken over and brought to the ground by the FBI.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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The late-afternoon blinding sun another is another feature to the stadium that makes AT&T Stadium unique in the NFL.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Trump warns of ‘bedlam’ if no deal US officials have stressed that the framework is performance-based and that Iran’s new ability to sell oil could get rolled back if negotiations aren’t productive.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
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The scene isn’t just a powder keg of tension that leads to frenzied bedlam; its cynical depiction of human self-preservation is far more terrifying than any horror movie monster.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Noun
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The Chiefs Hall of Honor on the second-level concourse contains the organization’s four Super Bowl trophies, memorabilia, exhibits and documents, and there is no admission to walk through history.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
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The removal of the exhibit, which took place in January, was also challenged in a separate lawsuit filed by the city of Philadelphia.—
Deena Zaru,
ABC News,
16 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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Tavares Strachan, 'Bar Room,' acquired by Columbus Museum of Art at The Pizzuti in the fall of 2025, will permanently remain beyond the dates of the exhibition.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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The exhibition continues through the summer as part of the district’s broader cultural offerings during the World Cup period.—
J.M. Banks
June 20,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
Noun
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Earlier this month, another Tennessee highway became the stage for an accidental spectacle when a brake fire on a trailer hauling fireworks ignited its cargo, causing bursts of colorful explosions on Interstate 75 near Chattanooga.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
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Before his first full professional season, which began in the minors, a Caglianone batting practice session in spring training could turn into a spectacle.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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