as in glass
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
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Recent Examples of spectacles
Indeed, Coachella’s other two headliners, Bad Bunny and Blackpink, put on elaborate main-stage spectacles over the weekend that by most accounts left fans feeling both stimulated and satisfied.
—
Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell of Lume are handling puppetry and movement — a detail that will immediately make fans wonder what creatures or spectacles might appear onstage.
—Ryan Brennan
april 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026
Ancient Roman gladiatorial games weren’t restricted to brutal spectacles between male pit warriors.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump supporters say the protests are spectacles of no real consequence.
—Staff and Wire Reports, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
My lack of Portuguese comprehension skills can’t stop me from enjoying these spectacles of audiovisual harmony.
—Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
Man bun, spectacles, house slippers.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
With his leading-man looks nerded down with spectacles, science T-shirts and a planet Earth hacky sack, Gosling portrays Grace as a teacher way out of his element amid hardcore NASA types.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Ravi stands some feet away, in a space all to himself, looking serious in his spectacles.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell of Lume are handling puppetry and movement — a detail that will immediately make fans wonder what creatures or spectacles might appear onstage.
—Ryan Brennan
april 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026
Ancient Roman gladiatorial games weren’t restricted to brutal spectacles between male pit warriors.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump supporters say the protests are spectacles of no real consequence.
—Staff and Wire Reports, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
My lack of Portuguese comprehension skills can’t stop me from enjoying these spectacles of audiovisual harmony.
—Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
Man bun, spectacles, house slippers.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
With his leading-man looks nerded down with spectacles, science T-shirts and a planet Earth hacky sack, Gosling portrays Grace as a teacher way out of his element amid hardcore NASA types.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Ravi stands some feet away, in a space all to himself, looking serious in his spectacles.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spectacles
glass
Noun
-
Tigani has invested in a high tech dispenser for preserving the wine and serving customers who order by the glass.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Floor-to-ceiling windows, double-paned with blown glass à l'ancienne, reveal the Place des Vosges and its leafy Louis XIII square.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spectacles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spectacles. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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