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
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Recent Examples of pageants
Armando Labrador writes songs, holds beauty pageants and leads a group of dissidents who stage protests in Havana.
—
Michael Smith, Bloomberg, 25 Mar. 2026
Sewing my costumes, making my evening gowns for pageants.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 26 Feb. 2026
The state and national pageants showcase the talents, brains and looks of the woman synonymous with American beauty.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The beauty queen won five pageants — Miss West Coast, Miss Nuestra Belleza USA, Miss Fresno County, Miss Regional West and Miss California Congeniality.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
She is also credited as the music supervisor for the NAACP Image Awards and several Miss Universe pageants, most recently in 2023.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 26 Jan. 2026
Their work included filming weddings, dance performances, theatrical productions and local pageants at venues throughout San Diego County.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
The island-wide celebration includes concerts, parades, cultural activities, and pageants, while numerous fairs celebrate the best in local art and culture.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
One of the most beloved holiday specials ever made doesn’t start with costumed pageants, joyful carols or snowmen come to life but with a self-aware declaration of seasonal depression.
—Abigail Rosenthal, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Michael Smith, Bloomberg, 25 Mar. 2026
Sewing my costumes, making my evening gowns for pageants.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 26 Feb. 2026
The state and national pageants showcase the talents, brains and looks of the woman synonymous with American beauty.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The beauty queen won five pageants — Miss West Coast, Miss Nuestra Belleza USA, Miss Fresno County, Miss Regional West and Miss California Congeniality.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
She is also credited as the music supervisor for the NAACP Image Awards and several Miss Universe pageants, most recently in 2023.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 26 Jan. 2026
Their work included filming weddings, dance performances, theatrical productions and local pageants at venues throughout San Diego County.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
The island-wide celebration includes concerts, parades, cultural activities, and pageants, while numerous fairs celebrate the best in local art and culture.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
One of the most beloved holiday specials ever made doesn’t start with costumed pageants, joyful carols or snowmen come to life but with a self-aware declaration of seasonal depression.
—Abigail Rosenthal, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pageants
Noun
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Large corporations often sponsor these festivities, and their executives are expected to march in the parades.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Marches or parades that require blocking traffic or street closures, large rallies requiring the use of sound amplifying devices or rallies over a certain size may require permits.—
Hannah Hudnall,
IndyStar,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But to highlight a few, here’s the shortlist of exhibits and events to check out this April.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex on Merritt Island, the Bialke family from Minnesota spent Saturday strolling through exhibits about NASA’s history and the future of commercial spaceflight.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The free event will feature crafts, play activities, animal encounters, nature presentations, vendor booths and other attractions, according to a social media post.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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The records include emails, internal presentations and other company documents used as exhibits in litigation, as well as court transcripts and witness testimony from depositions.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lee is also an accomplished film photographer, with his works having been featured in multiple group and solo exhibitions, magazines and books.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
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All of Boston’s teams and their biggest stars are honored at TD Garden’s Sports Museum, featuring exhibitions on the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox, and sculptures of Larry Bird and Ted Williams.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For more wonderful panoramas of the Douro river, nip over to Arco Das Verdades – a small, friendly wine bar with a decent selection of traditional Portuguese nibbles.—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
19 Mar. 2026
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Нe used a triangulation method, identifying distinctive features in Luna 9’s original 1966 ground-level panoramas—two distant hills, specific boulders and an ejecta streak—and matched them with topographic data from the LRO’s laser altimeter.—
Ilya Ferapontov,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Trump supporters say the protests are spectacles of no real consequence.—
Staff And Wire Reports,
Daily News,
28 Mar. 2026
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My lack of Portuguese comprehension skills can’t stop me from enjoying these spectacles of audiovisual harmony.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Production’s involvement in paying for cast extravaganzas is something Monique brought up in a confessional interview during season 10.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Mar. 2026
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Every year, these flashy performances — from classic movie-musical extravaganzas to Disney earworms to Bond themes to power ballads — are the highlight of an already ridiculously flashy ceremony.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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After the displays were removed, people left notes and drawings and held protests at the site.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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One of the largest displays featured bloodied bundles of white cloth spread across the grass like a makeshift graveyard.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pageants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pageants. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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