Definition of spectaclenext
1
as in pageant
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event the multimedia spectacles that have become established parts of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympic Games

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2
as in glass
spectacles plural a pair of lenses set in a frame that is held in place with ear supports and which are usually worn to correct vision bought a pair of spectacles with nonprescription lenses simply to look more intelligent

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 spectacle Dana White loves Trump, and what fight promoter could resist such a massive spectacle at the White House? Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 But according to sources who spoke to Ars, following the spectacle in space, the problem has been successfully fixed. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026 At First Presbyterian, his irenic, empathetic sermons became public spectacles. Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026 Trump turns 80, marked by a UFC cage-fighting spectacle on the White House South Lawn. Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for spectacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spectacle
Noun
  • The store became a sponsor of the Miss World beauty pageant, and John served as a judge for Miss Universe Great Britain, a significant recruiting pipeline for models.
    Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
  • Rachelle Di Stasio brings pageant-level polish to courtside style.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Remy Loet, the restaurant's sommelier, sets out wine glasses on a table before the start of dinner service at Aria on June 5, 2026.
    Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 16 June 2026
  • My regular waiter, Ryan, always had a glass of orange juice waiting for me at breakfast; my cabin attendant Sabrine kept my fridge stocked with sparkling water; and bartender Dennis always had my cocktail ready to go for me following dinner.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • The Chiefs Hall of Honor on the second-level concourse contains the organization’s four Super Bowl trophies, memorabilia, exhibits and documents, and there is no admission to walk through history.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
  • For nearly five decades, GLAZA assisted the zoo by funding exhibits, plant and animal species conservation, capital projects, and education and community outreach programs, according to the report.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • For more than a quarter-century, fate never indulged us with another KU-MU game in Kansas City (other than the 2017 hurricane relief exhibition) as the series itself went dormant in the wake of Mizzou’s move to the Southeastern Conference.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 Dec. 2025
  • An early pioneer of the warehouse-as-museum, the Geffen Contemporary, as it’s now called, has proved to be the ideal container for exhibitions that would be difficult to stage anywhere else.
    Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • The Cote d’Azur spectacular will play host — starting on Tuesday — to some of the most anticipated movies of the year in a constant parade of red carpets and megawatt premieres.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 May 2026
  • Nothing this spectacular happens by accident.
    Jordan Robinson, SELF, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The talent on display will be breathtaking and the matches should be thrilling, though a bloated group stage featuring 72 matches could dilute some of the excitement early in the tournament.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 11 June 2026
  • The 700-foot-tall Paramount Miami Worldcenter will be lit up with two soccer displays courtesy of the Miami Host Committee and Telemundo.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • In the week ahead, some hard realities of the office have threatened to overshadow the ostentatious UFC mixed martial arts extravaganza, where combatants sealed inside a wire-mesh octagon try to punch, kick, chop and pummel each other into submission.
    Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
  • This week, the hard realities of the office have threatened to overshadow the ostentatious UFC mixed martial arts extravaganza, where combatants sealed inside a wire-mesh octagon try to punch, kick, chop and pummel each other into submission.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Spectacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spectacle. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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