mummery

noun

Definition of mummerynext
as in parade

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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 mummery Jeannette Jackson received the honor at the Mummers Museum during a community discussion about Philadelphia traditions and the future of mummery. — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026 But what was once the norm can now seem a kind of ableist mummery, which this production attempts to sidestep by offering a Richard with no physical impairments at all. — New York Times, 11 July 2022 Last week, as Russia prepared to invade Ukraine and Gergiev prepared to lead the Vienna Philharmonic in three concerts at Carnegie Hall, the usual mummery was unfolding. — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2022 One of the oldest traditions in the United States is begging or the giving tips at the holiday, brought by English settlers and part of the Christmas celebrations associated with mummery and the Lord of Misrule, according to Turino. — Steven Goode, courant.com, 17 Dec. 2020 Keziah Wallis of Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand says that the rift first appeared in the 19th century, when a new understanding of Buddhism as a rational philosophy free of the mummery of religion began to take hold. — The Economist, 14 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mummery
  1. parade
  2. extravaganza
  3. pomp
  4. pageant
  5. spectacle
  6. pageantry
  7. ostentation
  8. fanfare
Noun
  • Shapiro told Semafor that he’ll be focused on passing a few specific items if his party wins full control of the government — not a parade of progressive bills, as Democrats in some swing states have done after winning the legislature.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Start your trick-or-treating as early as noon at local businesses and stick around for family-friendly fun, vendors, entertainment, and of course the parade and costume contest.
    — Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of parade
Noun
  • The 36-suite Hotel Yellowstone, named a Western Wonder in Robb Report’s 2025 Best of the Best awards, served as the home base for the four-day extravaganza.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The upscale magic venue known as The Hand & The Eye has announced quite the Halloween extravaganza this weekend.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of extravaganza
Noun
  • By now, Renate Reinsve is no stranger to the closing-night pomp of the Cannes Film Festival, having won the best actress trophy in 2021 for Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World, her first ever leading role.
    — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But for all the pomp and ceremony, China analysts broadly predict the leaders’ personal relationship and policy goals will result in a cautious summit that yields few major deliverables.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of pomp
Noun
  • The Glow Cushion will not give you that beauty pageant look—which is the point.
    — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 20 Oct. 2026
  • They’re then forced to compete in a beauty pageant, wearing lingerie and swimsuits, which Galán considers to be the ultimate motivator.
    — Jolene Edgar, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of pageant
Noun
  • The film is a wild, frequently grotesque spectacle that careens between horror, action, slapstick, and black comedy.
    — Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • All kinds of films, from big-budget spectacles to art house dramas, are stretching their runtimes.
    — Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of spectacle
Noun
  • Upsets, near-upsets and general wackiness; pageantry, pride and good old-fashioned heartbreak.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But in 2026, there’s been none of that pageantry as Republicans face long odds to hold both congressional majorities.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of pageantry
Noun
  • The space, tucked inside a commercial building in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat HaSharon, is conspicuously devoid of ostentation.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The interiors are relatively forgettable, but in a town marked by ostentation, the crowd counts for more than the surroundings.
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of ostentation
Noun
  • Something could come together quietly through a helpful conversation, a small favor, or someone giving you useful information without much fanfare.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The return of football at Azusa Pacific and Whittier has been greeted with much fanfare by alumni who remember the schools' heydays.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of fanfare

Browse Nearby Words

mummers
mummery
mummies
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Cite this Entry

“Mummery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mummery. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mummery

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mummery

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