pageant

noun

ˈpa-jənt How to pronounce pageant (audio)
Definition of pageantnext
1
as in parade
a staged presentation often with music that consists of a procession of narrated or enacted scenes we always put on a Christmas pageant every year

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in exhibit
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event an annual summertime pageant depicting the town's founding and colorful early history

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pageant When the first place beauty queen commits suicide, her best friend, in order to win the pageant, starts to wear the dead friend’s face. — John Hopewell, Variety, 14 July 2026 Whereas this evening in the Spanish Gothic madhouse of the United Theater, most every song from Melanie’s Hadean pageant is received with near word-perfect communalism. — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 13 July 2026 The World Cup doubles as a beauty pageant for each country’s fans, who strut around, sing their anthems, and try their best to look hot, happy, and, above all, passionate. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 July 2026 Kirsten Dunst, Brittany Murphy, Denise Richards, Allison Janney, Amy Adams, and a small-town beauty pageant for the crowning title of Dairy Queen—what more is there to say? — Air Mail, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pageant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pageant
  1. parade
  2. exhibit
  3. presentation
  4. exhibition
  5. panorama
  6. spectacle
  7. display
  8. spectacular
Noun
  • With two eclipses and a parade of planets changing signs, the cosmos is bringing more than enough intrigue to keep the drama alive and breathing.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Despite having roughly 850 law enforcement officers along the parade route and at the rally, shots rang out as people were beginning to leave.
    — Laura Bauer July 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Definition of parade
Noun
  • The exhibit's visitors can get a chilling feel for the time, with full scale recreations of the annex rooms where Anne and her family hid from the Nazis.
    — Marie Saavedra, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Visitors will move through cave-like interiors centered on an interactive exhibit named Elysium.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of exhibit
Noun
  • The hearing will also feature presentations from representatives of insurance companies.
    — Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The best part of the competition is taking a deep dive into a specific topic, Wadkins said, and also listening to the other students’ presentations to learn more about a specific time or person in history.
    — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of presentation
Noun
  • The other highlight was an immersive fashion exhibition spread over two floors.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • Current Levine Museum programs The museum plans to open a temporary exhibition that will be announced in the fall, Cooper said.
    — Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
Definition of exhibition
Noun
  • Together, these nine films offer a rich panorama of contemporary regional cinema, spanning intimate family dramas, coming-of-age stories, social realism, and formally adventurous works.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 July 2026
  • Alternatively, head to the dramatic sea cliffs surrounding the Edro III shipwreck for one of the city’s most memorable morning or evening panoramas.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2026
Definition of panorama
Noun
  • Two years after April 8, 2024’s North American eclipse, NASA is once again preparing to broadcast one of nature’s greatest spectacles live.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But for those craving something other than epic spectacle, Universal is stacking the lineup by releasing the small-scale romcom One Night Only, starring Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of spectacle
Noun
  • The Vienna’s display is also more comprehensive, with a power output graph, a trip meter, and a ride timer.
    — William Roberson, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The cafeteria-style trays and displays here are loaded with red-bean buns, bacon epi breads and other sweet and savory handheld snacks that’d fit right in at a park function.
    — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 July 2026
Definition of display
Noun
  • Viewing instructions for Epic Universe theme park’s new nighttime spectacular could well be to look up, down and all around.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026
  • The patriotic spectaculars are part of the team’s celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
Definition of spectacular

Browse Nearby Words

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pageant
pageantry
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Cite this Entry

“Pageant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pageant. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pageant

Nglish: Translation of pageant for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pageant

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