1
as in stadiums
a large usually roofless building for sporting events with tiers of seats for spectators
the Roman circus is believed to have held 50,000 spectators in ancient times
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in madhouses
a place of uproar or confusion
with seven kids in the house, it's a circus most of the time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pageants
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 circuses
In terms of performances and safety, the Triton Troupers Circus is like other circuses.
—
Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
As a teen-ager, Batten was the president of Animal Connection of Texas, an animal-rights nonprofit, and lobbied for restrictions on travelling circuses.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Signs discussing the use of Blackface and Minstrel music in traveling circuses were submitted.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
The stark reality Stark toured with circuses until the late 1940s, when she was hired by Jungleland, a zoo located outside of Los Angeles.
—Alessandro Meregaglia, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 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
Coaches don’t like media circuses, but Jones can’t wean himself off the attention.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
Other nominees included the Swiss yodelling, the handloom weaving technique used to make Bangladesh’s Tangail sarees, and Chile’s family circuses.
—Paolo Santalucia, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025
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
Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
As a teen-ager, Batten was the president of Animal Connection of Texas, an animal-rights nonprofit, and lobbied for restrictions on travelling circuses.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Signs discussing the use of Blackface and Minstrel music in traveling circuses were submitted.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
The stark reality Stark toured with circuses until the late 1940s, when she was hired by Jungleland, a zoo located outside of Los Angeles.
—Alessandro Meregaglia, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 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
Coaches don’t like media circuses, but Jones can’t wean himself off the attention.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
Other nominees included the Swiss yodelling, the handloom weaving technique used to make Bangladesh’s Tangail sarees, and Chile’s family circuses.
—Paolo Santalucia, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuses
Noun
-
Other high-profile games at different stadiums seemed to have similar conditions, but matches with lower demand had wider availability, according to the New York Times story, cited by Bonta in Wednesday’s news release.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
-
Kuma, whose recent projects range from luxury resorts to museums and stadiums, is overseeing the architectural direction.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Sara also noted to SWNS that pageants have boosted her daughter's self-esteem through the years.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
-
The nearly 100-year-old tradition is celebrated with pageants at schools and other festivities.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
On the road, ordinary gyms suddenly felt like coliseums.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Both exhibitions will mark the artist’s first major solo show in both Europe and the US, respectively.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
12 May 2026
-
Sterling also played an integral part in organizing key solo exhibitions for artists including Judy Chicago, Julie Taymor and Faith Ringgold.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
11 May 2026
Noun
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The building underwent a multiyear renovation completed in 2019 that added a dedicated visitor entrance, expanded exhibits about its construction and cultural legacy, and reconfigured observation areas to improve visitor flow.—
Bailey Berg,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
-
Visitors take in the various displays and interactive exhibits inside the Freedom 250 Mobile Museum on Wednesday, May 13.—
Brian T. Krista,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
For a few minutes, the day will turn to twilight, the sun’s corona will appear, and one of nature’s most extraordinary spectacles will unfold over a variety of spectacular landscapes.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
Despite my declaration to the tourists onboard that the dragons’ goat slaughter spectacles were a bygone thing, an Indonesian government VIP was on the island that day, and to give him a show, the national park staff had brought the goats.—
Craig Stanford,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Production’s involvement in paying for cast extravaganzas is something Monique brought up in a confessional interview during season 10.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Mar. 2026
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Every year, these flashy performances — from classic movie-musical extravaganzas to Disney earworms to Bond themes to power ballads — are the highlight of an already ridiculously flashy ceremony.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And 2026 is already off to a bright start, with a buzzy debut novel from Jennette McCurdy, plenty of celebrity memoirs and sci-fi spectaculars.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Each December, cities around Europe transform into twinkling holiday spectaculars, hosting Christmas markets and general cheer, where the hot cocoa flows like a river.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuses. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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