variants
or fêtes
1
as in events
a social gathering
the heiress wanted to do something with her life other than shuttle from fete to fete
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in celebrations
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something
the island's annual fete is a celebration of the daffodil in all of its springtime beauty
Synonyms & Similar Words
variants
or fêtes
as in honors
to show appreciation, respect, or affection for (someone) with a public celebration
the returning servicemen and servicewomen were feted with a week's worth of celebrations
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 fetes
Lina Lecaro, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The calendar fills with village fetes around this time of year, and none are brighter than February’s Combat Naval Fleuri (Floral Naval Battle) when the region’s traditional wooden fishing boats are decorated in golden mimosas and other winter blooms.
—Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 21 Dec. 2025
Violence has marred previous annual fetes.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The heads of some of the world’s leading film fetes gathered Tuesday at the Sarajevo Film Festival to discuss the role of festivals, broaching topical issues such as audience development and how growing political tension is affecting both curatorial and strategic decisions.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
Wild and kitschy shows followed with opening fetes dedicated to colorful subjects including Andy Warhol, circus clowns, and Canadian television creators and puppeteers Sid and Marty Krofft.
—Lina Lecaro, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The calendar fills with village fetes around this time of year, and none are brighter than February’s Combat Naval Fleuri (Floral Naval Battle) when the region’s traditional wooden fishing boats are decorated in golden mimosas and other winter blooms.
—Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 21 Dec. 2025
Violence has marred previous annual fetes.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The heads of some of the world’s leading film fetes gathered Tuesday at the Sarajevo Film Festival to discuss the role of festivals, broaching topical issues such as audience development and how growing political tension is affecting both curatorial and strategic decisions.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fetes
Noun
-
During the all-day hearing Friday, the owners of both companies took the stand to give their often starkly different views of events.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Most days at Bluebird will feature free live music and other entertainment events.—
Michael Deeds
Updated May 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
His goal sparked wild celebrations inside St Mary’s, none more so than in the press box, where Southampton’s analysts, doing the opposite of keeping a low profile amid the allegations levelled at the club, were enthusiastically bouncing around.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
In the four years since Alpha Games, Okereke and the band have played a series of big shows as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations behind Silent Alarm.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The $1,500 Caneva Scholarship honors the band’s longtime director Don Caneva who began the concert honoring student musicians over 20 years ago.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
The award recognizes outstanding achievement in casting and honors the creative contribution casting directors make to the success of film and television.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
In Wednesday's ruling, Judge Kenneth Karas of the Southern District of New York gave all parties — including Tartaglione's lawyers and the Department of Justice — one week to propose redactions to those filings.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
7 May 2026
-
All parties exposed or bitten by the beaver are receiving prophylaxis, a medical measure to prevent the spread of disease, and are recovering, Dawn Cetrulo, the department's health officer, told USA TODAY.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Elaborate heritage festivals occur nearly every autumn weekend in the island’s interior.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
-
Bentley and Kwedar will also develop a slate with up-and-coming filmmakers selected from the world’s top festivals and film schools.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Cartier’s party was the first stop of several post–Met Gala soirees for this crowd, many of whom migrated downtown to attend the late-night bashes like the GQ after-party at The Twenty Two.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
5 May 2026
-
Check out the full list of this year’s biggest bashes.—
Kimberly Nordyke,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Following Friday’s pregame festivities, Pedro Martinez made his way up to the press box and said standing on the field with his fellow club legends gave him goosebumps.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
-
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko attended the festivities in the Russian capital.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
LaPorta set the rookie tight end record for receptions in 2023 with 86 (the Las Vegas Raiders’ Brock Bowers shattered it a year later with 112).—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
-
Diggs led New England with 85 receptions and 1,013 yards receiving with four touchdowns in his only season with the team.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fetes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fetes. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
