as in proms
a social gathering for dancing
who are you taking to the dance on Saturday night?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in steps
to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music
she can't resist dancing to her favorite rock bands
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in darts
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
the lithe boxer danced around the ring, staying just out of the reach of his opponent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dances
Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
Three different types of percussion — the cumaco, the culo e’puya and the tamboras — work together to create a sound commonly heard at Venezuelan dances.
—Maria Torres, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The event features traditional spring dances, including circle dances, and attendees can learn about the cultural significance behind these movements and their connection to renewal and community.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2026
The room shifts throughout the day as sunlight dances across the home.
—Miriam Schwartz, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2026
This two-day event features live entertainment, including music and dances on multiple stages, along with lectures and storytelling about Hawaii and Polynesia.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Players will experience a variety of narrative vignettes, exploring the pivotal moments that shaped the characters, from first kisses to last dances.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
Poway Library celebrated the 2026 Lunar New Year with a Lion Dance and traditional Chinese dances and music performed on its patio on Saturday.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Fan dances, the holodeck, decontamination gel, and stripping down to our underwear in shuttle pods.
—Matthew Razak, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
Farrow said her favorite styles of dance are ballet and hip-hop, and her best friend also dances at the studio.
—Amy Stark Shireman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Now, Josie dances this crazy explosion in front of her.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
Far less persuasive are the uses of spontaneous modern dance sequences, whether in the flashback montages, or when Josie suddenly dances forcefully first to spite her mother whilst arguing in her studio, and later in a reconciliation scene.
—David Katz, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2026
But the composer also makes great use of the saxophone, which playfully dances through melodies that transport the viewer back to the swinging '60s and evokes the spirit of Henry Mancini.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Then Ross dances the line between Zionism and Judaism.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
Maurice Vasquez dances in his prison cell to blaring rap music, wearing a straw hat and designer glasses.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Heikki Lunta Festival Negaunee, Michigan The Heikki Lunta Festival pays homage to a beloved local legend, the fictional snow god who dances for fresh snow.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 29 Dec. 2025
Noun
In the distance, light dances off Pure Amazon's windows.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
Three different types of percussion — the cumaco, the culo e’puya and the tamboras — work together to create a sound commonly heard at Venezuelan dances.
—Maria Torres, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The event features traditional spring dances, including circle dances, and attendees can learn about the cultural significance behind these movements and their connection to renewal and community.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2026
The room shifts throughout the day as sunlight dances across the home.
—Miriam Schwartz, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2026
This two-day event features live entertainment, including music and dances on multiple stages, along with lectures and storytelling about Hawaii and Polynesia.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Players will experience a variety of narrative vignettes, exploring the pivotal moments that shaped the characters, from first kisses to last dances.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
Poway Library celebrated the 2026 Lunar New Year with a Lion Dance and traditional Chinese dances and music performed on its patio on Saturday.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Fan dances, the holodeck, decontamination gel, and stripping down to our underwear in shuttle pods.
—Matthew Razak, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Then Nelson dances a guy in the neutral zone and gets tripped … like, that’s what the penalties are for.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
Farrow said her favorite styles of dance are ballet and hip-hop, and her best friend also dances at the studio.
—Amy Stark Shireman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Now, Josie dances this crazy explosion in front of her.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
Far less persuasive are the uses of spontaneous modern dance sequences, whether in the flashback montages, or when Josie suddenly dances forcefully first to spite her mother whilst arguing in her studio, and later in a reconciliation scene.
—David Katz, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2026
But the composer also makes great use of the saxophone, which playfully dances through melodies that transport the viewer back to the swinging '60s and evokes the spirit of Henry Mancini.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Then Ross dances the line between Zionism and Judaism.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
Maurice Vasquez dances in his prison cell to blaring rap music, wearing a straw hat and designer glasses.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Heikki Lunta Festival Negaunee, Michigan The Heikki Lunta Festival pays homage to a beloved local legend, the fictional snow god who dances for fresh snow.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 29 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dances
Noun
-
The nearby Hilton Hotel held proms and homecomings, according to Collins.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The trolley has been used for events like weddings and proms for over a decade.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The boy died at the hospital just steps away from where he was struck, cops said.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
So the question of when, or whether, Michaels steps away remains open.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The barefoot one darts forward and drops a wet leaflet into one of your shopping bags.—
Molly Aitken,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
-
When Samson starts coming round in search of more of the morphine darts Kelson has been using to subdue him — not even zombies are immune to the appeal of opiates — Kelson starts treating his wounds, then joining him in his doses, then dancing with him to fragments of ’80s songs.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Despite major changes this year to timing and logistics, SXSW will again spotlight comedy and action films that other festivals don’t show, as well as be a hotbed for discovery of new talent.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Fredericksburg still wears its German heritage on its sleeve, evident throughout Main Street architecture and a lively cluster of biergartens and long-running seasonal festivals.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the movie flits between these different storylines, time is reframed less as something to resist (or defy) than as something to embrace.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Identity takes the lead as the Moon flits into your sign, so your tone, pace, and choices are most likely to set the mood for everyone today.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In typical provincial fashion, these four days of festivities include crafts, great food, bluegrass music, and an opportunity to visit sugar camps, where sap is boiled down into delightfully rich syrup.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Yesica Aramburo traveled on vacation to Mexico in April 2017 for the festivities in her Mexican family’s town of La Moncada, Guanajuato, in the center of the country.—
Karen Esquivel,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
That is not unique — Major League Baseball’s offseason shuffles along at a deliberate pace, just as the Dodgers historically have liked.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel (center) flutters a Venezuelan and Cuban national flags in support of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Havana.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dances. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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