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pageants

noun

plural of pageant
1
as in parades
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 exhibits
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 pageants Sisic was crowned Miss Austria in 2024, and continued to hold the title as there were no further pageants after that, the outlets reported. — Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2026 The franchise grew out of Wong, Shih and Yin’s own experiences competing in and observing Asian beauty pageants and talent contests held across North America and Asia. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 Miss World is one of the longest-running international pageants, with events such as the ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ segment, the ‘Head-to-Head’ live debate and ‘Top Model’ runway section. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026 The 2025 pageants aired on Queen Beauty Network following the May 2024 resignations of Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava. — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Venezuelan lawyer and designer Prince Julio César, director of Miss Universe Cuba, stated at the conclusion of the event that the finalists would continue working with the organization to prepare them for other beauty pageants. — Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 However, in 2025, the pageants aired on the Queen Beauty Network, which focuses on fashion, beauty, and pageant industries. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 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, 20 Aug. 2026 And then there’d be pictures of Shelly and April onstage in the beauty pageants. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pageants
  1. parades
  2. exhibits
  3. presentations
  4. exhibitions
  5. panoramas
  6. spectacles
  7. extravaganzas
  8. displays
Noun
  • The exemption is designed to apply to cars used primarily in shows, parades, charitable functions and historical exhibitions.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flood the city of Chicago to celebrate Mexican Independence Day this weekend at the city’s signature parades and festivals.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of parades
Noun
  • The Washington Post reported that officials at an unidentified national park had ordered that the photo be taken down, along with other signs and exhibits related to slavery.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Aside from the art show, the block party will offer live music and dancing, interactive art exhibits and numerous vendors.
    — Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of exhibits
Noun
  • The program includes runway shows by nine designers at the Leather Fashion Hub and presentations by five others at Spazio Lineapelle.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Wednesday’s presentations added more voices from inside UC leadership to a debate that so far has been led by math and science faculty pressing for the SAT’s return.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of presentations
Noun
  • From Renaissance masterpieces, to innovative impressionism, the continent’s exhibitions have so much to offer this autumn.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Documenta, which is staged every five years in Kassel, Germany, is one of the most prestigious recurring art exhibitions in the world.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of exhibitions
Noun
  • Three Fall Must-Dos Take in one of the best fall color panoramas at Brockway Mountain Lookout along Brockway Mountain Drive, linking Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor, about an hour’s drive north from Houghton.
    — Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In general, seek a perch with clear panoramas—such as a hilltop or open field instead of a thick forest.
    — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of panoramas
Noun
  • There’s an almost comically blasé way in which the performers — who are used to such spectacles — go about their work an hour before thousands of audience members will gasp and clap at the same tricks.
    — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • While not yet proof that Saudi Arabia’s roughly $250 million investment into Hero Esports will pay off, the event was a reminder that the kingdom can still create spectacles and stick the landing.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of spectacles
Noun
  • In those films, Nolan retained his auteurist fire while creating big, bold populist extravaganzas.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 21 July 2026
  • Today, her various closets are brimming with country clothes instead of the designer extravaganzas of yore.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
Definition of extravaganzas
Noun
  • Under the directive, at least 45 signs that covered topics ranging from climate change to Native American history were altered, according to Save Our Signs, an advocacy group that tracks changes to NPS displays.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The hardware already deployed in a typical store—terminals and kitchen displays—commonly runs around 10% CPU utilization even at full transactional load.
    — Peter Kellis, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of displays

Browse Nearby Words

pageantry
pageants
pageboy
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Cite this Entry

“Pageants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pageants. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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