DANCES Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

dances 1 of 2

noun

plural of dance

as in proms

a social gathering for dancing who are you taking to the dance on Saturday night?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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dances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of dance

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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of dances

Noun

Padma Khanna and other doubles performed some of the dances instead of Kumari, which made the continuity puzzle harder. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Native Americans celebrate their centuries-long history of resilience with ceremonies, dances and speeches. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 This gargantuan show is replete with Pollock's greatest hits, the giant, frozen dances of paint splashed on canvas that have become iconic. — Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026 Now, people take wedding photos on the stairs and locals film dances for Chinese social media. — New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026 Let’s talk dances first and stall the outrage for as long as possible! — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026 The complaint states that the friend hands Doe a beer, dances with her in the main room of the house, then pulls her off to a quieter area and propositions her with having a threesome with him and one of his fraternity brothers. — Amy B Wang, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026 Elmo dances, because in Sesame Street’s live stage shows, the Muppets have legs. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026 The bagpipes are skirling, the accordion swelling, and 200 people are executing dances of genuine technical difficulty, all in white-tie, tartan, and, crucially, flat shoes. — Katherine Pangonis, Air Mail, 3 Oct. 2026

Verb

First, the sequence pays homage to the nightclub scene in Gilda (1946), in which Rita Hayworth dances in a long shot amid ogling male patrons, tracked by a concentrated spotlight. — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 Noa dances viciously, slamming her body raw in front of the stage. — Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026 Jennifer Corey dances the Viennese Waltz with student Michael Moore Thursday, March 12, 2015, at the Denver Turnverein in Denver, Colorado. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 The Dancing Queen dances like no one is watching, however, all eyes are on her. — Abigail Dollins, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2026 Alvarez dances with Frankie Grande, Ariana’s brother, during her Brooklyn concert, receiving the family blessing. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 20 July 2026 This book about a couple in complex crisis creates a sense of political alienation that The Drama frankly dances around. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 2 July 2026 Listen to the supple bass line, which dances throughout the song as its own character. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 June 2026 The truffle vinaigrette drizzled atop imparts an earthy aroma and complexity that dances with the lobster and wagyu’s profiles. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dances

Noun

In addition to showing up everywhere, from festivals to parades and weddings to proms, the Wienermobile has also helped people, including Drew Barrymore, celebrate their birthdays over the decades with special stops made in their honor.

— Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Dunkin’ Prom, which funds alternative proms for teens who may have missed theirs for medical reasons and lastly, grants to customize hospital spaces to create joy.

— Zuri Primos June 29, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026

Definition of proms

Verb

In non-linear fashion, Sorkin’s scenario darts back and forth between 2018, ’19, ’20 and ’21, offering a puzzle that eventually will come all together.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Sam Levy’s editing likewise darts associatively between these moods, seemingly letting sense memory shape the chronology of proceedings.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of darts

Noun

At festivals, a party and a movie can compete for the same people.

— Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
The Hindi-language film has also travelled to prestigious international film festivals, including the Tokyo International Film Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of festivals

Verb

Jeffrey said his father flits about from KC to his 35 international restaurants, which are located in the Middle East, Asia and beyond.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Accented by aged brass and deep brown marble, the lamp easily flits between retro and moodier contemporary styles.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of flits

Noun

Kim and his cast joined the festivities, with the film starring host Kim Min-ha alongside Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa, Chang Ryul, Shim Eun-kyung, Lee Hee-jun, Jeon So-young and Kim Dong-hwi.

— Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Although their mythological associations and forms of celebration differ by region, both are marked by major religious and communal observances and festivities.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of festivities

Verb

Tracee Ellis Ross struts her stuff on the way out of Watch What Happens Live in New York City on July 23.

— People Staff, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
The movie plunks us down at Mar-a-Lago, where Melania struts out the door and into the back of an SUV, which will take her to the red-white-and-blue private plane painted with the word TRUMP that’s waiting for her at the airport.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026