1
as in coliseums
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
One of her obituaries celebrated the life of a Bureau of Reclamation photographer who transitioned from a man to a woman and built miniature circuses.
—
Susan Greene, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2025
Susan Greene, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuses
Noun
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Another albino Thai buffalo was sold in 2024 for 18 million baht ($672,000) after winning multiple pageants.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
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The controversy centered on Pulgarín’s age, 34, which many pointed out exceeds the usual standards of other beauty pageants in Colombia, according to US Magazine.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Albertsons Stadium was selected as one of 75 stadiums nationwide to host the tour.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Oct. 2025
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The release arrives as Jisoo continues performing with Blackpink on the group’s Deadline World Tour, which has sold out stadiums across multiple continents.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Tang Wing, a collaboration with the architecture firm Beyer Blinder Belle, will also house rotating special exhibitions, requiring blank canvases of sorts.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
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The key is nurturing each intellectual property and finding new ways to connect with consumers — better products, richer content, and more immersive experiences, from exhibitions to theme parks.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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An additional 2% hotel, motel and restaurant tax also is collected to pay for parks and tourism.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Oct. 2025
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This comes amid aggressive expansion promises announced in 2024, which are part of Disney’s 10-year plan to invest $60 billion into their parks and cruises around the world.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The institution, which is funded roughly two-thirds by federal appropriations, said that while exhibits will close, animal care at the zoo and its Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia will continue uninterrupted.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
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Miracle Mile is home to numerous museums, including the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with vintage screenings and exhibits that dive into film history, with free admission for guests under 18.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Set against some of Riyadh’s most famous landmarks, including Bedrock, Al Mamlaka and JAX, the program combines large-scale runway spectacles with intimate fashion showcases.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
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But sporting events do have breaks for commercials, and Netflix has learned that audiences turning in for a live spectacles will sit and watch the ads advertisements.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Sundance Film Festival, named for one of the actor’s most iconic characters, grew into a cornerstone of the film industry and eventually one of the most glitzy extravaganzas on the Hollywood social calendar, known as much for screenings as for executive deal-making and VIP parties.—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
16 Sep. 2025
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Advertisers still crave the broad, simultaneous viewership such extravaganzas generate, and marketers that in the past might not have spent heavily on sports now see new reasons to do so.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuses. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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