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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of spectacle
Social media and forecasting apps have transformed this otherworldly cosmic spectacle into something that is as magical as ever—but a bit less elusive.
—
Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
Others run on nostalgia, spectacle, or a kind of stubborn authenticity that hasn’t checked the algorithm in years—and isn’t about to start now.
—Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Jan. 2026
The spectacle of Maduro being transported to a New York courthouse may draw inconvenient attention to Putin’s failure to successfully impose regime change on neighboring Ukraine.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Careful use of binoculars should reveal the spectacle.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spectacle
Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
Others run on nostalgia, spectacle, or a kind of stubborn authenticity that hasn’t checked the algorithm in years—and isn’t about to start now.
—Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Jan. 2026
The spectacle of Maduro being transported to a New York courthouse may draw inconvenient attention to Putin’s failure to successfully impose regime change on neighboring Ukraine.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Careful use of binoculars should reveal the spectacle.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spectacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spectacle
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Simply choose the right size for your meal, place the glass bowl in the air fryer, and start cooking with the push of a button.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
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To McDermott, wearing glasses would be a reminder that more sand might be in the bottom of his hourglass than the top.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Miami’s first Black Art Basel exhibit was held at the Lyric Theater.—
Dorothy Jenkins Fields,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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Variety is encouraged, and the exhibit aims to showcase a range of mediums, from painters to mixed-media artists and photographers.—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Additionally, Florence is not lacking in exhibitions for art aficionados.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
13 Jan. 2026
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The video opens mid-flight before following Yungblud through a series of tour stops in Sydney, including a visit to Behind The Gallery, where an exhibition spotlighting the singer recently drew such large crowds that police were called to manage the scene.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Each December, cities around Europe transform into twinkling holiday spectaculars, hosting Christmas markets and general cheer, where the hot cocoa flows like a river.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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These itinerant lecturers performed experiments and spectaculars in London coffeehouses and aristocratic salons, demonstrating Newtonian physics.—
Beth DuFault,
The Conversation,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The screen size can be customized to best fit your display area, with a minimum size of 32 inches and the ability to expand up to 200 inches.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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The bluntness of her cut is on full display, with the ends turning up ever so slightly.—
Elise Tabin,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Netflix 'The Life of Chuck' Based on the Stephen King novella, director Mike Flanagan's supremely joyous character study – the best movie of 2025 – involves an apocalypse, multiple dance extravaganzas and a haunted attic.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
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The alt-rock singer-songwriter with bonafide pop-star status originally booked a solo tour extravaganza back in 2020 in support of Petals for Armor, but the pandemic scrapped those plans.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spectacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spectacle. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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