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
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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
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Recent Examples of pageants
Hudson previously won a Division 4 NCA Collegiate Championship with Bridgewater State in 2021, and in recent years she's also competed in Miss Maine USA pageants, placing second at the 2024 event and coming in third place in 2025.
—
Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Flores Gómez previously competed in beauty pageants and was crowned Miss Teen Universe Baja California in 2017.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
These 34 comedies streaming across the internet satirize global issues like nuclear war, cultural trends like beauty pageants, and leave no stone unturned in their quest to make life's toughest stuff more emotionally palatable.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Loren got her start in beauty pageants as a young girl before turning to acting in the 1950s.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, Architectural Digest, 3 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, closer to home, at the Glock Horse Performance Center in Austria, Kathrin put together a series of lavish Horses & Stars pageants.
—Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
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
Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Flores Gómez previously competed in beauty pageants and was crowned Miss Teen Universe Baja California in 2017.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
These 34 comedies streaming across the internet satirize global issues like nuclear war, cultural trends like beauty pageants, and leave no stone unturned in their quest to make life's toughest stuff more emotionally palatable.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Loren got her start in beauty pageants as a young girl before turning to acting in the 1950s.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, Architectural Digest, 3 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, closer to home, at the Glock Horse Performance Center in Austria, Kathrin put together a series of lavish Horses & Stars pageants.
—Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pageants
Noun
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The llama has participated in parades, fairs and public events, drawing strong engagement from crowds and appearing to enjoy the attention.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
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The llama has appeared at parades and fairs, thriving on public attention.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Dinosaurs is a 10-acre outdoor attraction featuring more than 40 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, along with walking trails, live shows and interactive exhibits.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The insulation from the ceiling snowed down onto virtually every part of the building — exhibits, artifacts, galleries and display cases.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Iconic examples include monumental editions of Shalimar by Guerlain, which has appeared in oversized presentations approaching one liter and beyond.—
Sudhir Gupta,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2026
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And unlike his prior presentations, Director of Parks and Maintenance Costa Kutulas brought some props.—
Shun Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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General admission is free, though some special exhibitions require tickets.—
Taylor Haught,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
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After an inaugural edition last year, the AIR festival will return to Aspen, Colorado, in July with a program of performances, exhibitions, talks, and other events in the high-flying mountain town.—
Andy Battaglia,
ARTnews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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To showcase the distinct regions each rover is exploring, NASA recently shared dueling panoramas composed from hundreds of photos taken between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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Get skyline panoramas from One World Observatory, the tallest tower in the country, built where the original World Trade Center stood.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The verdict Elizabeth Creamery isn’t about over-the-top creations or Instagram spectacles.—
Tristan Graziano,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Apr. 2026
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Salopettes and ski helmets make frequent appearances, along with couples in thick, round spectacles who might be architects—and nearby resident Norman Foster, who most certainly is.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 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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The 5,100square-foot museum, designed in the shape of a wave, maintains a collection of vintage and signature surfboards that are rotated between displays.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Apple may be considering a radical redesign of its displays for the upcoming 20th-anniversary iPhone, if new leaks are correct, giving Apple consumers the type of bezel-less screen that has previously been featured on high-end devices from Samsung, Huawei, or Honor.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pageants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pageants. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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