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
  • There was a costume parade featuring 38 corgis in diverse outfits including a dinosaur suit, a dress and doggy sports gear.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Victoria Beckham continued her bikini parade while out in Portofino with her husband David and daughter Harper, 15.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of parade
Noun
  • The garden is famous for its annual orchid show, an extravaganza that usually runs from February to April.
    — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The auctions during Monterey Car Week, the annual extravaganza of classic car auctions, shows, races and awards, are expected to reach $470 million to $500 million, according to Hagerty.
    — Robert Frank, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of extravaganza
Noun
  • No pomp, no circumstance, no celebrity— this is the sticky ground floor of the nation’s country music scene.
    — Jacqueline Kehoe, Midwest Living, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Bonanno, one of its original members, is said to have eschewed the pomp and public appearances of his contemporaries and remained a low-profile figure into the 1950s.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of pomp
Noun
  • JonBenét’s involvement in beauty pageants became fodder for tabloids, suspicion surrounded her parents even after they had been cleared as suspects, and numerous theories developed regarding who killed her.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In 1921, the Miss America pageant was founded, a major event held in Atlantic City for decades that helped extend the tourism season.
    — Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of pageant
Noun
  • Built into a natural ravine, the stadium’s site was used for ancient Greek athletic contests and later Roman spectacles before falling into centuries of disuse.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • In Navarrette’s casting as Rogue, there was an implicit acknowledgement of the kind of shifts in consumer sentiment Marvel may be worrying about — away from IP-reliant spectacle towards something more homegrown and hand-spun.
    — Chris Lee, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of spectacle
Noun
  • The sights, sounds and pageantry that make up college football can come to life at the corner of 95th Street and King Drive.
    — Monique Carroll, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • In the very human-scale role of Chef, all that glamour and pageantry seethes just beneath the skin.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of pageantry
Noun
  • The packaging and philosophy emphasize sustainability and collectibility without ostentation, aligning with a growing desire for thoughtful luxury.
    — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • While Vico has been careful to avoid any kind of ostentation, Argentaia offers a spa, a tennis court, a stunning 100-foot saltwater infinity pool overlooking the valley, and a movie theater.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 May 2026
Definition of ostentation
Noun
  • More fanfare accompanied the man Pecko passed over for this opportunity.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Rush walked onto the stage with the same lack of fanfare, just Geddy, Alex, and Neil headed to work.
    — Kevin Griffin, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mummery

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mummery

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