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
Relevance
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
Itsaragrisil’s firm, which also owns and operates other beauty pageants including Miss Grand International, recently acquired shares from former Miss Universe director Anne Jakrajutatip.
—
Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
Unlike other pageants like Miss America, the Miss Universe competition does not have a talent portion in its lineup.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Many of them got their start in beauty pageants, from Erika Kirk (Miss Arizona) and Kristi Noem (South Dakota's Snow Queen) to deputy press secretary Anna Kelly (Miss State Fair of Virginia).
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
Some scholars have suggested that the boys were prized for their looks and conscripted into homoerotic pageants created by Christopher Marlowe.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Another albino Thai buffalo was sold in 2024 for 18 million baht ($672,000) after winning multiple pageants.
—CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
Loren got her start in beauty pageants as a young girl before turning to acting in the 1950s.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2025
Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
Unlike other pageants like Miss America, the Miss Universe competition does not have a talent portion in its lineup.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Many of them got their start in beauty pageants, from Erika Kirk (Miss Arizona) and Kristi Noem (South Dakota's Snow Queen) to deputy press secretary Anna Kelly (Miss State Fair of Virginia).
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
Some scholars have suggested that the boys were prized for their looks and conscripted into homoerotic pageants created by Christopher Marlowe.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Another albino Thai buffalo was sold in 2024 for 18 million baht ($672,000) after winning multiple pageants.
—CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
Loren got her start in beauty pageants as a young girl before turning to acting in the 1950s.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pageants
Noun
-
Veterans Day is often honored with parades, memorial services and deals from businesses.—
Jordan Green,
Nashville Tennessean,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Marysville, West Sacramento, Elk Grove and Auburn also held parades.—
Hannah Ruhoff,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This year’s Imaginarium Festival theme is Winter Utopia, featuring ice kingdoms and fairytale landscapes alongside infinity mirror rooms, interactive exhibits, carnival games and an ice skating rink.—
Marcus Smith,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Three days of testimony, dozens of exhibits, and one Subway sandwich later, the misdemeanor assault case against Sean Charles Dunn is now in the hands of a jury, and the defense says the government has taken a protest moment and turned it into a federal prosecution.—
Beatrice Peterson,
ABC News,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Get specific prompts to optimize emails, memos and presentations for tone, context and audience.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
-
There will be presentations to honor veterans, guest speakers and a salute from the Vista City Council.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
That more than compensated for the absence of Dixon-Waters, who was SDSU’s leading scorer in both preseason exhibitions (19 and 17 points) after missing all of last season with a fractured bone in his foot that refused to heal quickly.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Under de Blasio, the mansion became a space that blended residential, artistic, and civic functions, including exhibitions exploring social change, while maintaining the mansion’s long-standing public and political significance.—
Nandika Chatterjee,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Sedona View Trail Starting at the top of Airport Mesa, the path angles downhill through a thin screen of junipers revealing stunning panoramas below.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Units are designed to maximize ocean views, with 11-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors that frame panoramas of Playa Brava and Playa Mansa.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Leading up to the Great American Eclipse, these safety spectacles became a bit hard to find, so buy them and more eclipse gear and merch early.—
Maya Silver,
Outside,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Kiss wouldn’t have another Top 10 until long after Frehley left in 1981, but the quartet’s albums continued to sell well as its arena concerts became spectacles.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The venue is suited for musical performances from string quartets and small orchestras to vocal extravaganzas.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
His Christmas Eve shows were extravaganzas that involved holiday tunes and sound clips.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Tuckman also said Team Bahamas’ festive costumes and dancing displays were memorable.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Scott Ford, who was walking in Ault’s group, said that the new lighting system can be used yearround and programmed for seasonal and holiday displays.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pageants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pageants. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share